Green ‘ banned from spa after spanking instructor’
Court papers: He was told to stay away from pilates coach
SIR Philip Green was banned temporarily from a luxury resort spa after allegedly groping a pilates instructor, new documents claimed last night.
The £750-a-night Canyon Ranch retreat conducted a probe into the shamed business mogul after Katie Surridge, 37, claimed he spanked her repeatedly during classes.
The 67-year-old was charged with four counts of misdemeanour assault in the US last week over the allegations and the case will go to court later this month.
Police papers submitted to the court said bosses at the resort in Tucson, Arizona, ruled the incident had taken place, but told officers they would only hand over files if a court ordered it.
In his notes about the case, Detective David Stivers wrote: ‘ In reviewing the files I found that Canyon Ranch had in fact completed investigations into the behaviour by Philip Green after complaints were filed by Mrs Surridge. The findings of those investigations determined that there was inappropriate behaviour by Mr Green and his spa privileges were suspended for a short time.’
The notes said resort managers decided that once Topshop billionaire Green was allowed to return to the spa he should not ‘be around’ Mrs Surridge.
He is accused of ‘ knowingly touching another person with intent to injure, insult or provoke’. Green is not expected to attend court in person but could face jail or a fine if found guilty.
The boss of the Arcadia retail group, which also includes Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge and Burtons, owns a £2.3million home on the Canyon Ranch estate and would regularly work out at the gym, spend time in the spa or play on the communal tennis courts.
Mrs Surridge told police in an interview that during a visit in 2016 ‘creepy old man’ Green ‘vigorously’ spanked her bottom up to ten times while she was teaching pilates.
After she complained to management the mogul was told not to go near her again.
But Mrs Surridge said in 2018 the ‘high-roller’ returned and ‘grabbed my butt cheek’. The businessman is currently at the centre of what has been dubbed the British #MeToo movement after former employees accused him of sexual harassment and racism.
Mrs Surridge is one of the first people to speak out about her alleged treatment at the hands of Green. The fitness coach eventually quit her job at Canyon Ranch after saying she no longer felt ‘protected’ by the company, according to police notes.
Documents reveal the ranch refused to hand over details from its inquiries automatically to officers. Detective Stivers visited Canyon Ranch for information but was told police would need to go through the courts.
Earlier this week it was revealed Mrs Surridge’s husband threatened to ‘ beat the c**p’ out of Green. Josh Surridge, who also worked at the resort, considered confronting the tycoon. His wife told officers: ‘He was going to go to the guy’s house and, you know, beat the c**p out of him.’
Another woman, who owned a home at the resort, said she saw Green grab the pilates instructor with an ‘octopus-like hand’.
The charges come during a turbulent time for the mogul who last night agreed to pour in an extra £100million to plug Arcadia’s pension fund gap.
He has denied his behaviour was criminal or amounted to gross misconduct in the wake of other allegations including groping a female executive and making a racial slur at an employee.
Last night a spokesman said: ‘It would be entirely inappropriate for Sir Philip Green to comment on proceedings before a court, other than for him to confirm that he denies any inappropriate misconduct towards Mrs Surridge.’
‘Inappropriate behaviour’