Blind swim lord ‘wanted breast stroke in hotel spa’
A TORY peer and Paralympic swimming champion grabbed a masseuse’s bottom at a hotel spa, a court heard.
Lord Christopher Holmes of Richmond MBE, 48, allegedly pointed to his crotch and asked if the woman did ‘extras’ on March 7 last year.
Holmes, who is visually impaired, is Britain’s most successful Paralympic swimmer, with a total of nine golds, five silvers and one bronze.
Following his retirement from swimming he was elevated to the House of Lords in 2015.
Holmes was joined in the dock at London’s Southwark crown court by his black Labrador Nancy.
Prosecutor Linda Strudwick told jurors he had booked a 90-minute massage at the five-star central London hotel.
‘Towards the end of the massage, Lord Holmes grabbed [the complainant’s] arm. He sat up on the table where the massage was taking place,’ she said.
‘He asked how old she was. Then he asked her, “Can I see how you look?”
‘[She] was unsure about what he meant but assumed that it meant could he touch her face.
‘She allowed him to do this, but then feeling embarrassed and uncomfortable at that point she began to move away.
‘Mr Holmes stopped her by grabbing her buttocks.
‘He said, “Nice”, and he asked if he could touch her boobs. She said, “No”.
‘He asked if she “did extras” and pointed towards his crotch, she said, “No, I am a professional”. He said, “Are you sure you’ve never done it?”.’
Ms Strudwick added: ‘Mr Holmes obviously realised that he had gone too far, he made shushing noises to her and apologised.’ Holmes then ‘calmed down’ the shocked woman.
The distressed masseuse went straight to her manager and also told her work agency and boyfriend, jurors heard.
Holmes, of Richmond, Surrey, denies one count of sexual assault. The trial continues.