# Ex-BBC producer sexually assaulted in France while working undercover to expose fashion industry abuse claims victory as country’s Senate votes to abolish ‘archaic’ 20-year limit on underage sex crime claim

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/ex-bbc-producer-sexually-assaulted-in-france-while-working-undercover-to-expose-fashion-industry-abuse-claims-victory-as-countrys-senate-votes-to-abolish-archaic-20-year-limit-on-underage-sex-cr/
- Published: 2026-11-02T17:02:47+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-02T17:39:06+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16259283/bbc-producer-sexual-assault-france-legal-reform-victory.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Culture, Elections, Europe, Fashion, Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- France voted to remove time limits for child sex crime cases.
- The change does not cover adult victims such as Lisa Brinkworth.
- She is urging further reform for adult survivors.

## Summary

Former BBC producer Lisa Brinkworth says a French Senate vote to remove the time limit for prosecuting sexual crimes against children is a landmark victory, after France’s previous rules prevented her adult assault allegation from being investigated. She alleges modelling executive Gérald Marie attacked her while she was working undercover on a 1998 BBC investigation into abuse in the fashion industry.

The Senate approved the change by 252 votes to 80, removing the limitation period for crimes against children; it does not apply to Brinkworth or other adult campaigners. She reported her allegation in 2020, two years beyond the former 20-year limit, and is continuing to campaign for the limit to be removed for adult victims. Marie’s lawyer has said an investigation into complaints against him was closed without further action.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.