French actor Gerard Depardieu was found guilty by a Paris court on Tuesday of sexual assault. 

The 76-year-old was convicted on charges of sexually assaulting two women on the set of the film "Les Volets Verts" ("The Green Shutters")  in 2021. 

The court handed Depardieu, who was not present in the court for the verdict, an 18-month suspended prison sentence. 

What was Depardieu accused of?

During a four-day trial in March, lawyer Jeremie Assous had claimed that the accusations against the actor were "fabricated" and urged that the charges be dismissed. 

Paris prosecutors said one plaintiff, a set dresser, told investigators that she had first heard lewd on-set remarks from Depardieu.

An hour later, the woman said she was "brutally grabbed" by Depardieu as she was walking off the set.

He allegedly pinned her by "closing his legs" around her before groping her waist and stomach, continuing up to her breasts.

During the incident, she said Depardieu made "obscene remarks."

The other plaintiff, an assistant, testified that Depardieu groped her buttocks and breasts during three separate incidents on the film set.

During the trial, Depardieu had rejected the accusations, admitting he had used vulgar language on the film set, and that he grabbed the set dresser's hips during an argument, but denied that his behavior was sexual.

However, judge Thierry Donard said Depardieu's version of events was unconvincing, Reuters news agency reported. 

First case against Depardieu to come to trial

Around 20 women have previously accused Depardieu of inappropriate conduct, but this was the first case to come to trial.

In 2018, actor Charlotte Arnould accused him of raping her at his home. That case is still active. 

Depardieu is one of the most high-profile figures to be accused in France's #MeToo movement.

The trial had been delayed from October 2024 due to Depardieu's ongoing health problems. 

Edited by: Wesley Dockery