British billionaire Philip Green charged in US with spanking Pilates teacher Katie Surridge
- Tycoon faces four counts of misdemeanour assault, with instructor claiming he grabbed her buttocks and repeatedly touched her
- Green, whose Arcadia Group owns the Topshop high-street fashion chain, ‘strenuously denies’ allegations, will not attend June hearing in person
British retail tycoon Philip Green has been charged with four counts of misdemeanour assault in the US after an Arizona Pilates instructor accused him of repeatedly touching her inappropriately, Britain’s Press Association reported on Friday.
The billionaire chairman of Arcadia Group, Green, 67, is accused of spanking the instructor and grabbing her buttocks at the Canyon Ranch resort in Tucson in 2016 and 2018, according to the Pima County Attorney’s Office, the PA reported.
Arcadia Group said in a statement on Green’s behalf that he “strenuously denies” the allegations, and noted that “contrary to previous suggestions in the media, there is no allegation of any sexual assault or misconduct made by the prosecution”.
Lauren Deakin, a deputy county attorney in Pima county, said Green had been formally charged with four counts of “knowingly touching another person with the intent to injure, insult or provoke”, The Guardian reported.
“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 US$500, and up to one year of probation,” deputy county attorney Deakin said.