US police looking at claim Green groped woman at his ranch
SIR Philip Green is being investigated by police in the US following an allegation that he groped a fitness instructor, it was claimed last night.
The Topshop tycoon has been accused by Kate Surridge, a pilates teacher at the Canyon Ranch in Arizona where Sir Philip owns a home, of repeatedly touching her bottom and making sexual comments towards her.
The 37-year-old, who has waived her anonymity to The Daily Telegraph, reportedly complained to bosses twice about his inappropriate behaviour and has since been interviewed by police about the claims.
She claimed Sir Philip made her feel ‘almost like a prostitute’. She told the paper: ‘I felt very taken advantage of and like, you know, just a piece of meat there at his disposal.
‘It feels completely sexual in nature. And the way – the noises, and the “oh, you naughty girl”. Like – ugh – I can hear him saying it right now.’ Mrs Sturridge, who has worked at the ranch since 2006, alleges the first encounter took place on January 5, 2016, in her pilates studio.
‘First thing he does was slap my butt,’ she said. ‘I want to say it felt like ten times; it was probably somewhere between six to ten. But it was like boom, boom, boom, boom, vigorous, like handfuls, ten times in a row.’
Sir Philip returned to her studio on January 9, 2018.
The newspaper has also seen documents showing the mother-of-two made complaints of sex offences against the businessman in 2016 and 2018. Officers in the US are assessing whether a crime was committed but sources have confirmed a formal investigation was launched.
A spokesman for Sir Philip confirmed an allegation was investigated in 2018, but said the reported incident ‘never happened’.
Canyon Ranch said it would not tolerate inappropriate behaviour towards its staff.