Key points
- Issue: a young man had been convicted of sexually assaulting his then girlfriend, when they were both 15.
- Decision: the Court of Appeal held that the case file did not establish coercion, a required element of the offence.
- Outcome: acquittal, dismissal of the complainant’s claims for compensation, and costs borne by the State.
Complaint by an ex-girlfriend over events at age 15: the Court of Appeal acquits
On 12 November 2025, the Paris Court of Appeal (Case No. 25/04077) granted an acquittal for sexual assault to a client of Goldwin Avocats. An acquittal is the decision declaring the defendant not guilty. The ruling matters to anyone prosecuted for past events reported years after a relationship.
A complaint filed seven years after a teenage relationship
In 2023, a young woman filed a complaint against her former boyfriend over events dating back to 2015 and 2016. Both were 15 at the time and had a nine-month romantic relationship. Their age at the time of the events placed the case within the juvenile justice system, even though he had since become an adult.
In May 2025, the juvenile court found him guilty and ordered him, jointly with his parents, to compensate the complainant. It had excluded messages submitted by the defence the day before the hearing. Once added to the appeal file, these exchanges were debated before the court.
The young man, who always denied having forced his girlfriend, was represented by Goldwin Avocats.
Why the court rejected the sexual assault charge
The court granted an acquittal for sexual assault, for lack of proven coercion. Article 222-22 of the French Criminal Code, in the version applicable to the events, required violence, coercion, threat or surprise. Article 222-22-1 of the French Criminal Code allows for moral coercion, arising for instance from an age gap or authority over the minor.
No element of the case file established such coercion:
| Element of the case file | Court’s finding |
|---|---|
| Physical violence | Blows exchanged during an argument, not followed by sexual acts |
| Messages exchanged | Extensive discussion about their shared sexuality |
| Complainant’s distress | Not attributable to this relationship alone |
The court called into question neither the word nor the distress of the complainant. As with any acquittal in a court of law, the outcome turns on proof: the file described a toxic relationship, not coercion.
Convicted at first instance: what an appeal allows to be reheard
An appeal lets the court rehear the facts and evidence and overturn the conviction. Article 498 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure generally sets the appeal deadline at ten days from the judgment.
Prepare the appeal in this order:
- File the appeal with the court registry within the deadline.
- Gather all the messages exchanged, with their dates.
- Disclose these documents early enough for them to be debated.
Article 427 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure admits any evidence, provided all parties could discuss it. The court read the exchanges as a whole, not just extracts.
We secured our client’s acquittal before the Court of Appeal. However, each situation must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Prosecuted or convicted for sexual assault? Contact one of our criminal defence lawyers to review your appeal options.
Related areas of expertise
Criminal Law › Criminal Defence – French criminal law lawyer
Frequently asked questions about acquittal for sexual assault
It is psychological pressure that deprives the victim of the freedom to refuse. Article 222-22-1 of the French Criminal Code accepts that, for a minor, it may result from an age gap or the perpetrator’s authority. Without an age gap or authority, coercion must emerge from other specific evidence in the case file.
No, not to acts committed before 8 November 2025. Since the law of 6 November 2025, Article 222-22 of the French Criminal Code defines sexual assault by a lack of free and informed consent. Article 112-1 of the French Criminal Code prohibits the retroactive application of a harsher criminal law, as the Court of Cassation confirmed in July 2026.
Yes, through an appeal to the Court of Cassation lodged within a short deadline. Article 568 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure gives the prosecutor and the parties ten clear days, excluding the day of the ruling. The Court of Cassation then reviews the application of the law, without rehearing the facts.
Juliette BOUYNE