French After-School Leader Convicted for Assaulting Toddler

Souleymane D. was found guilty of sexual assault on a minor for crimes committed between July 2023 and October 2025 at a municipal leisure center on rue de l’Aqueduc in the French capital’s 10th arrondissement, according to Remix News. The child, who was under his care during after-school hours, reported the assaults to her parents.

🇫🇷 JUST IN: A 25-year-old after-school activity leader has been convicted in Paris of sexually assaulting a child aged between 3 and 5.

Souleymane D. has just been sentenced 18 months in prison with a suspended sentence.

The family's lawyer described the verdict as "a relief,"… pic.twitter.com/kh6JEM0A5C

— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) July 12, 2026

During trial proceedings, the accused maintained his innocence, claiming he had only engaged in “tickling” the child. The Paris criminal court rejected his account, citing the reliability and coherence of the child victim’s testimony.

Judges noted that the young girl provided consistent, corroborative details to both her father and mother separately, with no indication of coaching or contamination from other legal proceedings in the wider scandal. Her statements remained unchanged throughout the investigation.

By contrast, the court described Souleymane D.’s testimony as “evolving” and unconvincing. He initially denied knowing the child, then denied any physical contact, before altering his story without plausible explanation. Investigators discovered photographs on his mobile phone showing prohibited physical contact with children, and the physical layout of the recreation facility was found to be consistent with the alleged assaults.

Suspended Sentence and Lifetime Ban from Working with Children

Under the terms of his sentence, Souleymane D. will serve no actual prison time provided he complies with a 30-month probation period. He has been permanently banned from any professional activity involving contact with minors, must undergo mandatory psychological treatment, and will be registered on France’s national sex offender database, the FIJAIS.

The convicted man has ten days to lodge an appeal.

The family’s attorney, Me Charles Héran, welcomed the ruling as a turning point after two recent acquittals of other Paris after-school workers accused of sexual assault. We are glad that this child’s voice has been heard, Héran told reporters, calling the decision extremely encouraging for pending cases and expressing hope the defendant would accept the verdict and comply with treatment requirements.

Over 100 Schools Implicated in Widening Scandal

The conviction represents the first successful prosecution in what has become one of France’s most disturbing institutional child abuse scandals. Since late 2025, investigations have been opened at more than 100 Paris public schools and municipal leisure centers across all arrondissements, involving allegations of both sexual and physical violence against children by périscolaire activity leaders.

The City of Paris suspended 132 after-school activity leaders in 2026 alone, including 52 specifically for suspected sexual or sexist violence. Additional dozens were suspended in 2025 for similar reasons.

Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire‘s administration has committed €20 million to an action plan addressing the crisis, including the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry, reformed reporting procedures, and a citizens’ convention to review the entire périscolaire organizational structure.

Parents Demand Justice After String of Acquittals

Despite this conviction, parents of alleged victims expressed mixed reactions and continuing frustration with the French justice system’s handling of child testimony. Many echoed concerns raised by the #MeTooEcole movement that children’s consistent accounts are routinely dismissed without corroborating physical evidence, creating a climate of de facto impunity for abusers.

“I’m disgusted… despite everything, the children’s word is questioned,” one parent stated following the verdict.

The conviction of Souleymane D. comes after two consecutive acquittals of former Paris animators in similar cases sparked widespread outrage among families whose children attended municipal after-school programs. Those verdicts had raised serious questions about whether the French judicial system affords sufficient weight to the testimony of very young victims in sexual assault cases.

The outcome of any potential appeal, and the resolution of dozens of ongoing investigations, will determine whether this landmark ruling signals a genuine shift in how French courts evaluate child sexual abuse allegations within institutional settings.

With information from Remix News