A French court will rule on Friday if former IMF boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn is guilty of sex crimes. He faces the possibility of a prison sentence.

Once tipped as France’s next president Strauss-Kahn’s political ambitions came to an abrupt halt four years ago after a hotel maid in New York accused him of sexual assault.

Criminal charges were dropped and he settled the case out of court.

Since then he has been fighting separate charges of sex offences in France including procuring prostitutes for sex parties.

Conviction can carry a sentence of up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to one and a half million euros.

The orgies are alleged to have taken place here at the Carlton hotel in the northern French city of Lille.

Strauss-Kahn denies the charges and his lawyers are calling for an acquittal.