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Sir Philip Green US assault charge dropped

Lauretta Roberts
20 January 2020

A charge of misdemeanour assault against Sir Philip Green by a Pilates instructor in the US has been dismissed.

Sir Philip was charged with “knowingly touching another person with the intent to injure, insult or provoke”, which he has always denied.

How according to a court document released by Sir Philip's fashion group Arcadia the charge was dropped by Justice Vince Roberts at the end of last week at the request of the prosecution.

In a statement, the company said: “At the request of the prosecution, the cases alleging assault against Sir Philip Green, due to be heard before The Consolidated Court of Arizona in and for The County of Pima on 20th February 2020, were dismissed by the Order of the Honourable Justice Vince Roberts on 17 January 2020. “These matters are now closed.”

Sir Philip, 67, could have faced up to 30 days’ imprisonment on each charge or a fine of up to $500 (£385) if the prosecution had gone ahead. It was alleged by Katie Surridge that the retail tycoon had grabbed and slapped her bottom during classes in the Canyon Ranch luxury resort in Tucson in 2016 and 2018.

Sir Philip's behaviour had been under scrutiny after cabinet minister Peter Hain used parliamentary privilege to name him as the businessman behind a series of sexual harassment and bullying charges recounted in reports in The Daily Telegraph.

It was alleged the retail group used NDAs to prevent staff, who had left the business, from making their stories public. Sir Philip has always denied any unlawful behaviour.

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