Ten people found guilty of cyberbullying France's first lady Brigitte Macron over false claims she was born a man

A Paris court on Monday found 10 people guilty of cyberbullying France's first lady, Brigitte Macron, in the latest legal action sparked by false claims that she is a transgender woman who was born a man.

The eight men and two women, aged between 41 and 60, had been accused of making malicious comments about Ms Macron's gender and sexuality, including equating the age difference between her and her husband with "paedophilia".

The court said those claims were "particularly degrading, insulting, and malicious", and handed down penalties ranging from cyberbullying awareness training to suspended sentences, as well as, in one case, a six-month prison sentence.