British Man Charged in Disneyland Paris Mock Wedding Scandal

Strategic Insights -

A 39-year-old British man has been charged in connection with a "mock wedding" at Disneyland Paris involving a 9-year-old girl as the bride, French prosecutors announced. The man, who was part of the fake wedding party, faces multiple counts of fraud, abuse of trust, money laundering, and identity theft. The incident occurred on Saturday, and the man was arrested along with four others, including the girl's mother and two individuals hired to play the roles of her father and sister.

Key Takeaways:

  • The British man, identified as a convicted sexual offender, was charged with multiple counts of fraud, abuse of trust, money laundering, and identity theft.
  • The man was reportedly paid 12,000 euros to play the role of the father of the bride, but realized the bride was 9 years old at the last minute.
  • The girl is a Ukrainian national who arrived in France with her mother two days prior to the mock ceremony.
  • Four people were arrested, including the British man, the girl's mother, a 24-year-old Latvian woman who played the sister of the bride, and a 55-year-old Latvian man who played the father of the bride.
  • Disney Paris was deceived into hosting the private event, which featured about a hundred hired extras as fake wedding guests.
  • The British man is currently wanted in the UK due to a breach of sex offender requirements, according to French prosecutors.

Statistics:

  • 12,000 euros: the amount allegedly paid to the British man to play the role of the father of the bride.
  • 9 years old: the age of the Ukrainian girl who played the bride.
  • 4: the number of people arrested in connection with the incident.
  • 100: the number of hired extras falsely presented as wedding guests.
  • 2 days: the amount of time the girl and her mother were in France prior to the mock ceremony.

Sources:

  • "French prosecutors charge man in Disneyland Paris 'mock wedding' case", Reuters, 2023
  • "Briton charged over Disneyland Paris mock wedding involving 9-year-old", The Guardian, 2023
  • "Disneyland Paris 'mock wedding' scandal: four arrested, including man who hired groom", The Telegraph, 2023