The far-right French firebrand hoping to become his country’s new President was today found guilty of provoking racial hatred by calling child immigrants ‘thieves, rapists and murderers’.

Eric Zemmour, 63, was not in the Paris Criminal Court on Monday when judges read out the verdict, and said he would have to pay a fine equivalent to £8000.

Zemmour is a former magazine journalist who was now a television pundit. He has been convicted on two similar charges. 

His latest conviction followed a trial in November when Zemmour denied a charge of ‘complicity in provoking racial hatred and racial insult.’

This is just the latest twist in turbulent months for the presidential hopeful. He was revealed as having a child with his assistant, 28 years old in November. In October, he waved an assault rifle at journalists while telling them to “back off”. 

Despite all this, Zemmour has been elected to succeed Emmanuel Macron in France’s presidency in April. 

Opinion polls currently put him behind in the presidential race to Mr Macron and Marine Le Pen, of the far-Right National Rally, as well as Valerie Pecresse, the Republican’s candidate. 

Far-right French firebrand Eric Zemmour, 63, who is hoping to become his country¿s new President was today found guilty of provoking racial hatred by calling child immigrants ¿thieves, rapists and murderers¿

Far-right French firebrand Eric Zemmour, 63, who is hoping to become his country’s new President was today found guilty of provoking racial hatred by calling child immigrants ‘thieves, rapists and murderers’

In November it was revealed Zemmour is expecting a love child with his personal assistant Sarah Knafo (pictured together in December 2021) who at 28, is 35 years his junior

It was announced in November that Zemmour and Sarah Knafo, his personal assistant, were expecting a child together. They are pictured here together in December 2021.

Pictured: A still grab from a video of the incident a Paris gun fair on Wednesday shows Zemmour looking down the scope of a sniper rifle

In scenes posted on social media, Mr Zemmour can be seen brandishing a sniper rifle in the direction of journalists at a Paris gun fair, without making any safety checks whatsoever

On social media, Zemmour is seen pointing a rifle at journalists while holding a sniper gun. He didn’t make any safety checks. Pictured: Still grabs from a video of the incident a Paris gun fair showing Zemmour looking down the scope of the rifle before pointing it at the press on Wednesday

Olivier Pardo his defense barrister stated that his client was not present at the hearing today to prevent it from becoming a nonstop TV news studio.

The case centered on Zemmour’s appearance during a live debate on the CNews TV channel in September 2020.

The incident occurred after an arrest of a Pakistani national for inflicting wounds on 2 people using a meat cutter outside Paris’s former Charlie Hebdo magazine offices.

Initial claims by the attacker that he was 18 were false, but later it became clear that he was actually 25.

Despite this, Zemmour told the program that there were too many unaccompanied child migrants from Muslim majority countries in France, saying: ‘All these young people are from an immigrant background. These children have no place in this country.

‘They are thieves, they are murderers, they are rapists, that’s all they are – they must all be sent back, and they shouldn’t come in the first place.’

Many complaints were received, even from French authorities who have been charged with caring for child migrants.

‘These are young people who have the right to protection and a dignified welcome,’ said Stéphane Troussel, president of the Seine-Saint-Denis departmental council.

‘We cannot tolerate the combined actions and racism which this gravedigger of the French Republic is accustomed,’ Mr Troussel added.

In turn, Zemmour denied any wrongdoing, while his defence counsel argued that the trial has become politicised because of their client’s presidential ambitions.

Eric Zemmour, 63, was placed in a headlock by an unidentified assailant as he walked through the crowd at the Zenith area in northern Paris in December

Eric Zemmour (63), was placed in a chokehold by an unknown assailant while he walked in the Zenith district in northern Paris, December 2012.

Zemmour was first found guilty in February 2011 of inciting racial hate. In June 2017, he was convicted in the second instance of inciting religious hatred.

His rage is often directed at Muslims, African Americans and any other immigrant.

Zemmour has also been accused of virulent anti-Semitism after denying – against all the historical evidence – that the French collaborated with the Nazis during the wartime Holocaust.  

This was just the latest incident in a series of chaotic events involving far-right presidential hopeful. 

In October, Zemmour waved an assault rifle at journalists and saying: ‘Back off!’

Zemmour, in photos posted to social media, was seen holding the weapon at Paris’ Milipol arms fair without any safety checks.

In November, it was announced that Zemmour and Sarah Knafo are expecting a child together. Sarah Knafo is Zemmour’s personal assistant at age 28. 

After Closer, the French newspaper reporting on his secret affair was prevented from publishing it details of Closer’s presidential bid, the news broke. 

The privacy request was rejected by the court. In November, the magazine published the headline “Eric Zemmour will be a dad in 2022”. 

Polls currently show France's President Emmanuel Macron (pictured in Poitiers, western France, on October 8, 2021) ahead in the first round of the presidential election

Current polls show that France’s President Emmanuel Macron is ahead of France in the first round. (Photo taken in Poitiers in western France on October 8, 2021).

Marine Le Pen, of the far-Right National Rally

Valerie Pecresse, the Republican¿s candidate

Opinion polls currently put Zemmour behind in the presidential race to Mr Macron and Marine Le Pen, of the far-Right National Rally, (left) as well as Valerie Pecresse, the Republican’s candidate (right)