Ten men are facing charges in connection with an investigation involving the sexual assault of a five-year-old at a “chemsex” gathering. These chemsex parties, where substances like GHB, mephedrone, or methamphetamine are used to heighten sexual experiences, are commonly seen in the gay community.
Despite typically involving consenting adults, in this disturbing instance, the victim was reportedly brought to the event by his father. A video of the assault was allegedly shared among attendees and other individuals.
The men, aged between 29 and 50, are now facing charges related to child sexual abuse and substance use. The public prosecutor’s office in Lille, France, stated that the child was exposed to adult males by his father and subjected to sexual violence intensified by chemical substances.
The incident took place in February of the previous year but was only recently disclosed. The Lille public prosecutor’s office transferred the case to an investigating judge on February 22, 2025, for offenses committed between November 2024 and February 14, 2025.
Charges include rape and sexual assault involving substances administered to the victim, as well as rape and sexual assault with torture or brutality, and providing a substance to a minor under 15 without their awareness to commit sexual offenses.
The investigation confirmed the allegations, leading to the indictment of ten men, with nine in custody. One of the primary suspects took his own life while in custody on June 21. The child is now under the care of his mother, as the father had separated from her before the incident and is receiving specialized assistance.
The Lille public prosecutor’s office highlighted that the maximum penalty for rape with torture or brutality acts is life imprisonment. The inquiry also delves into unauthorized drug possession and the possession and distribution of pornographic images of a minor through electronic networks.
The investigation extended beyond Lille following the arrest of an individual from the Bas-Rhin region on January 18. Police searched the residence of a 30-year-old residing with his parents near Saverne, as reported by Les Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace (DNA) on January 30.
This development prompted the Lille public prosecutor’s office to release a statement in response to the ongoing investigation, which revealed the details to the public.