The sanction fell. The former coach of a youth football team from Meurthe-et-Moselle was sentenced Monday to three years in prison, two of which were suspended, for sexual propositions to his players via social networks. The former coach of the Saint-Nicolas-de-Port club, aged 21, was found guilty by the Nancy criminal court of soliciting a minor for the dissemination of his pornographic image, sexual assault and corruption of minors.
Between 2021 and 2023, via Snapchat and Instagram, he contacted some of his very young players, aged around ten, under a false female identity. He asked them to expose themselves by sending photos of their genitals, before pushing at least four of them to film themselves masturbating or having sex. The prosecution had requested a one-year suspended sentence.
“By handing down a harsh prison sentence, which was not requested by the prosecution, the court heard the victims and their extreme suffering,” declared Frédéric Berna, lawyer for one of the civil parties. “This file reminds us how active sexual predators are on social networks and how difficult it is to protect our children, but it also demonstrates that no one is safe behind their screen,” said he congratulated.
The Nancy Criminal Court also sentenced the ex-coach to work and care obligations and to compensate the civil parties. He was banned from having contact with them or from engaging in any activity with minors for ten years.