Fashion mogul Peter Nygard pleads guilty to sexual assault in Quebec.

Peter Nygard, the 84-year-old founder of the now-defunct women's apparel company Nygard International, pleaded guilty to a sexual assault charge in Quebec on Monday under a plea agreement. He did not present any evidence in his defence and appeared via video link from an Ontario prison.

Quebec Crown prosecutor Jérôme Laflamme said the guilty plea came unexpectedly ahead of what had been scheduled as a 10-day judge-only trial.

The Quebec case is separate from Nygard's 2023 conviction in Toronto, where he was found guilty on four counts of sexual assault and sentenced to 11 years in prison. He is currently serving that sentence in Ontario. Nygard also faces extradition to the United States on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges.

According to evidence presented by the prosecution, which was not challenged by the defence, Nygard used his status as a well-known fashion designer to lure young women.

The victim, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, met Nygard in a bar when she was 18 years old. The two later met for lunch at her workplace to discuss her career, after which he invited her to his Montreal penthouse, claiming he had forgotten his keys. Once inside the apartment, prosecutors said he locked her in a bedroom and sexually assaulted her.

The alleged assault took place between November 1997 and November 1998.

Laflamme said the complainant was present at the courthouse and had been prepared to testify before learning of Nygard's guilty plea.