Top racing trainer on sex assault charges
RACeHORSe trainer and former jockey David ‘ Dandy’ Nicholls appeared in court yesterday charged with sexually assaulting two women.
The 60-year-old, known affectionately as ‘the Sprint King’, denied two offences of sexually touching the women without their consent and will now face trial at Teesside Crown Court.
He is said to have touched the naked breast of one victim and leant through a car window to indecently touch the second.
Nicholls, who is married to former women’s champion jockey, Alex Greaves, 48, appeared at Northallerton magistrates’ court yesterday for a brief hearing.
Prosecutor Beth Richardson told magistrates the first offence took place in November 2012 when Nicholls and the alleged victim were alone at his stables in Sessay, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire.
She said: ‘She was leaving his house when the defendant grabbed hold of her and put his hand on her top.’
The unnamed woman allegedly pushed Nicholls away but he kissed her, unfastened her bra strap and touched her naked breast, the court heard.
Nicholls is also said to have touched her underwear for a couple of seconds before the complainant pushed him away and left.
The second alleged offence in October 2013 was said to have happened when the victim was driving a car and wound down the window. Mrs Richardson said the defendant ‘ leant inside and touched her breast on her clothes.’
He also allegedly touched her between her legs and on her thigh.
Chairman of the bench Malcolm Smith said that due to the seriousness of the alleged offences the case was to be sent for trial at crown court.
He told the defendant the offences were in a category that could lead to a prison term of two years. Nicholls was released on unconditional bail. The next hearing will be on June 24.
After the hearing his solicitor Mark Haslam said: ‘As far as my client is concerned, both allegations are strenuously denied.’