British Man Charged for Staging Mock Wedding with 9-Year-Old at Disneyland Paris

Jacky Jhaj, a 39-year-old British man, has been charged in connection with orchestrating a mock wedding to a 9-year-old Ukrainian girl at Disneyland Paris on June 21, 2025. Jhaj, who is on the sex offenders register due to a previous conviction involving sexual activity with minors, was arrested after police intervened upon being alerted by an actor hired for the faux ceremony. This mock wedding was meant to take place in front of the Sleeping Beauty castle and was intended to be filmed for social media. Around 100 extras were reportedly recruited for the event. Authorities became suspicious when they noticed the bride's alarmingly young age. An investigation revealed many of the wedding guests were actors who had been transported to the park with little information about the event. The child underwent a medical examination and was found to be unharmed. In connection with the incident, Jhaj and a 24-year-old Latvian national remain in custody, while the child's mother, a 41-year-old Ukrainian, and another Latvian, aged 55, were released. Alexandre Verney, the assistant prosecutor for the Seine-et-Marne département, indicated that charges against Jhaj could include fraud and identity theft. Last year, Jhaj was previously investigated by the BBC for hiring young children for a staged film premiere in London, raising concerns about his conduct. The mock wedding incident has drawn widespread condemnation for its alarming implications concerning child safety.

On June 24, 2025, French prosecutors charged British national Jacky Jhaj, 39, with several offenses including fraud, breach of trust, money laundering, and identity theft. This follows an alarming incident at Disneyland Paris where Jhaj allegedly staged a mock wedding ceremony with a nine-year-old Ukrainian girl, who was intended to be the bride. Jhaj, a registered sex offender recognized for previous crimes involving minors, was arrested after the event prompted immediate police intervention when staff reported concerns about a potential illegal child marriage. Prosecutor Jean-Baptiste Bladier stated that Jhaj had altered his appearance significantly to play the groom and had hired actors, including one to portray the bride's father.

This bizarre event took place on Saturday and involved around 100 French extras who were recruited for the filming by Jhaj's team, which has raised additional red flags regarding the nature of the gathering. Jhaj previously gained notoriety in 2023 when he hired numerous young children as paid actors during a fake film premiere in London. Authorities were alerted to his activities following an investigation by the BBC. Following his court appearance in Meaux, northeast of Paris, he was remanded in pretrial detention as investigations into his actions continue, indicating the seriousness of the situation and potential ongoing threats to minors. The events surrounding this mock wedding have sparked significant media attention and raised questions regarding the safeguards in place to protect children from exploitation and harm.