British fashion designer John Galliano has been stripped of his Legion d’Honneur for his racist and antisemitic behaviour, it emerged on Monday.

The former artistic director of fashion house Dior was awarded the highest civilian award in France, for services to French couture, three years ago by President Nicholas Sarkozy. However, following Mr Galliano’s conviction for “public insults based on origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity” last year, current French President Francois Hollande has taken the unusual step of revoking the award.

The designer was found guilty in September 2011 of a series of antisemitic rants, calling curator Geraldine Bloch a “dirty Jew” and declaring his love for Adolf Hitler.

Mr Galliano denied all memory of the events, blaming twin addiction to alcohol and drugs and subsequently apologised.