A French former champion boxer has been convicted of beating up police officers during a Yellow Vest riot.
Christophe Dettinger, 36, was filmed lashing out on a bridge in Paris during the anti-government protests early last month.
Judges yesterday sentenced Dettinger to a year of “semi liberty”, meaning he will only have to spend nights in jail. He will also have to serve an 18-month suspended sentence.
Dettinger admitted his crimes at Paris Correctional Court. “I was gassed and, in a moment, anger mounted in me and I reacted badly. Yes, I reacted badly,” he said.
He was placed on remand on January 9 after going on the run, but will now be free to return to see his family and continue his job as a council maintenance worker.
The former light-heavyweight champion will also be banned from entering Paris for the next six months.
Dettinger, who is 6ft 4in tall, is known as the “Gypsy of Massy”, after the south Paris suburb where he was bought up in a community of travellers.
Protests initially against fuel tax started on November 17 when people across France donned high-visibility vests, earning them the nickname the “gilets jaunes”.
