British Man Arrested for Organizing “Mock Wedding” with 9-Year-Old Girl at Disneyland Paris

A British man has been charged by French authorities for orchestrating a mock wedding involving a nine-year-old girl at Disneyland Paris. Arrested after a tip-off, he faces scrutiny for previous sexual offenses and potential deception surrounding the event.

A 39-year-old British man has been charged in France for allegedly organizing a "mock wedding" involving a nine-year-old Ukrainian girl at Disneyland Paris. Prosecutors reported that the man, whose identity has yet to be disclosed, is a convicted sexual offender wanted in the UK. He was apprehended early Saturday morning after police received a call from someone claiming to have been hired as the "father of the bride." This individual stated he was paid €12,000 for the role and only realized the bride was a child at the last moment, according to Meaux prosecutor Jean-Baptiste Bladier.

The Ukrainian girl had reportedly arrived in France two days prior and has not been identified as a victim of any physical or sexual abuse, nor was she coerced into participating in the event. A woman who claimed to have been hired as a guest expressed outrage upon encountering the little girl dressed in bridal attire, saying, "I saw a woman who picked her up in her arms... and I was shocked, I burst into tears. When I saw [a] child - it was horrific."

This mock wedding involved around 100 French extras and was filmed privately, with the British man purportedly portraying the groom. Prosecutors noted that he had altered his appearance "professionally," using disguise techniques. Several participants were arrested, including the girl’s mother, a 24-year-old Latvian woman intended to play her sister, and a 55-year-old Latvian man, but only the British man remains in custody.

On June 26, the man and the Latvian woman faced the judicial system, with charges including fraud, breach of trust, money laundering, and identity theft, leading to his pretrial detention. Meanwhile, the Latvian woman is currently regarded as a witness. Prosecutors indicated that Disneyland Paris had been misled into renting the venue, as the man had used a fabricated Latvian ID for the arrangement. Reports estimate the entire mock wedding stunt could have cost upwards of €130,000 (£110,000).

The prosecutor also disclosed the man’s prior convictions, particularly for sexual offenses against minors, making him a recognized threat in the UK sexual offender database. As investigations continue, the motives behind the farcical wedding remain unclear, raising numerous questions about safety, consent, and the protection of minors.