Man who slapped woman on bottom fined under France's new 'cat-call' law

A man has become the first person to be fined under a new French law against cat-calling, for making a lewd comment about a woman's breasts.

He was also jailed for three months for slapping the woman’s bottom on a bus near Paris.

The man, who was inebriated when he boarded the rush-hour bus, smacked the 21-year-old on the buttocks and made the insulting comment, before an argument broke out with the bus driver, who jammed the doors shut while the police were alerted.

A judge in Evry, south of Paris, sentenced the man, in his 30s, to three months in prison for the slap, which was considered an act outright sexual aggression.

He was also fined €300 (£268) for the offensive comments.

Court and justice ministry officials said the fine was the first imposed under legislation which seeks to deter lecherous remarks and harassing behaviour such as wolf-whistles.

The minister behind the legislation, which also allows for on-the-spot fines of up to €750 (£671), posted a message on Twitter celebrating the court’s decision.

“Bravo for the bus driver’s quick-wittedness and the penalty imposed,” said Marlene Schiappa, the country’s minister for gender equality.

It comes months after a footage of a woman being harassed and slapped in the face was caught on CCTV.

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

A suspect was arrested in late August after the footage went viral and prompted a police hunt.

One in three women and girls globally experience physical or sexual violence, according to United Nations estimates.

In France, a recent survey found more than half (53 per cent) of women said they have experienced sexual harassment or assault.