Stade Ren Player Sentenced for Armed Phone Thefts in France

A professional football player from Stade Ren was sentenced to an 18-month suspended prison term following a series of armed phone thefts that occurred in the city last Saturday.

The incidents took place between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. near the city center, where the unidentified footballer, accompanied by a young basketball player and a minor, used a knife to rob four victims.

The football and basketball players appeared in court on Monday. The Stade Ren player received an 18-month suspended sentence with a two-year probation period and 70 hours of community service.

The student and basketball player was also sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for 14 months over two years, citing family debts as his motivation. The minor involved will face trial at a later date.

The defense attorney described the group as a "trio of fools" with no prior criminal records.

During the hearing, the Stade Ren footballer claimed he was initially unaware of the plan, stating he did not know what his friends intended when they picked him up. He added that he felt remorse after the first theft but continued regardless.

The deputy public prosecutor rejected these claims of spontaneity, emphasizing that the group acted in a disguised and organized manner.