Topshop boss charged over US grope claims
Sir Philip Green has been charged with four counts of misdemeanour as s ault i n the US after a Pilates instructor alleged the Arcadia retail mogul repeatedly touched her inappropriately.
Katie Surridge told police i n Arizona t hat Si r Philip s panked and grabb ed her backside during classes in the Canyon Ranch luxury resort in Tucson in 2016 and 2018.
Pi ma Count y At t o r ne y ’s Office said yesterday the Topshop boss had been charged wit h k nowingly t o uchi ng another person with the intent to injure, insult, or provoke.
Deputy county attorney Lauren Deakin said: “Philip Green has been formally charged wit h f o ur misdemeanour assault counts. These are class three misdemeanours. Each count has a potential sentence of up to 30 days in the Pima County jail, a fine of not more than $ 500 and up to one year of probation.”
An arraignment date has been set at Pima County Justice Court for 19 June.
Sir Philip, 67, “strenuously” denied the allegations, with a spokesman saying he was “disappointed” the charges have been lodged.
Ms S u r r i d g e , a mother - of- three in her 30s, said in a police interview the “creepy old man” had “vigorously” slapped her bottom up to ten times in January 2016.
She alleged she was worried about frustrating a “high roller” at the resort, but decided to speak to management who said they spoke to Sir Philip and reassured her it would not happen again. But Ms Surridge told police Sir Philip came back for another class in January last year.
“This time, instead of slappi ng my butt, he puts hi s hands, l i ke, he wraps hi s hands around my waist and then grabs my butt cheek and just puts his hand there and just holds it there as he’s hugging me,” she said. He went on to make uncomfortable comments and pat her exposed stomach as she demonstrated an exercise, she alleged.
The charges come during a turbulent time for the retail mogul. He has been told to pour millions into retail business Arcadia’s pension fund as 50 stores are set to close.