Man who slapped woman's bottom gets first fine under new French 'cat-call' law

[Mingle]

A judge sentenced the man to three months behind bars for the slap and a fine of 300 euros for offensive comments

PARIS, Sept 25 (Reuters) - A man who slapped a woman's bottom on a bus near Paris has been jailed for three months and, in a first under a new law against cat-calling, also fined for lewd remarks about her physique.

The man, inebriated when he boarded the rush-hour bus, smacked the 21-year-old on the buttocks and made an insulting comment about her breasts, before a squabble with the bus driver, who jammed the doors shut while police were alerted.

A judge in Evry, south of Paris, sentenced the man, in his 30s, to three months behind bars for the slap, considered an act of outright sexual aggression, and added a fine of 300 euros ($353) for the offending comments.

Court and justice ministry officials said the fine was the first imposed under legislation that seeks to deter predatory remarks and harassing actions such as wolf-whistles, which are fairly commonplace in public life in France.

The minister behind the legislation, which also allows for on-the-spot fines of as much as 750 euros ($880), posted a message on Twitter hailing the court decision.

"Bravo for the bus driver's quick-wittedness and the penalty imposed," said Marlene Schiappa, the gender equality minister.

The sentence comes weeks after an episode of violent sexual harassment in the street was captured on CCTV footage.

In the video, a man who had wolf-whistled a 22-year-old woman outside a Paris cafe was seen punching her in the face after she rebuffed him with sharp words.

A suspect in that case was arrested in late August after the footage went viral, prompting a police hunt.

Globally, one in three women and girls experiences physical or sexual violence, the United Nations estimates. In France, a recent survey showed more than half -- 53 percent -- of women say they have experienced sexual harassment or assault.

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news.trust.org/item/20180925124532-jsj3y/

[Mingle]

Bump

[Longbowman]

Well deserved? what comments are you hoping for

[ÁGUIA]

Court and justice ministry officials said the fine was the first imposed under legislation that seeks to deter predatory remarks and harassing actions such as wolf-whistles, which are fairly commonplace in public life in France.

Portuguese bricklayers be very careful.

[Mingle]

Well deserved? what comments are you hoping for

Idk, guess I thought some people might find it interesting that a cat-call fine exists.

Edit: Two separate crimes occurred. A prison sentence was given for slapping and a fine was given for cat-calling. The cat-calling fine is a new law.

[frankhammer]

Sexual assault is sexual assault. He shouldn't expect anything less.

The wolf whistling fine is an odd one.

[İrle]

Well deserved.

[magyar_lány]

Poor guy! It's a brutal punishment for this behaviour.

[♥ Lily ♥]

Sexual assault is sexual assault. He shouldn't expect anything less.

The wolf whistling fine is an odd one.

It wasn't just wolf-whistling.

In the video, a man who had wolf-whistled a 22-year-old woman outside a Paris cafe was seen punching her in the face after she rebuffed him with sharp words.

[Longbowman]

Idk, guess I thought some people might find it interesting that a cat-call fine exists.

he slapped her arse, though