Sir Philip Green is charged with four counts of assault relating to a US pilates instructor's allegations
Sir Philip Green has been charged with four counts of misdemeanour assault in the US after a pilates instructor alleged the Arcadia mogul touched her inappropriately.
Pima County Attorney's Office, Arizona, revealed that the fashion mogul faces allegations that could see him jailed or fined.
He stands accused of repeatedly assaulting 37-year-old Katie Surridge, who says Sir Philip spanked and grabbed her backside during classes in the Canyon Ranch luxury resort in Tucson in 2016 and 2018.
The mother-of-three said in a police interview that the 'creepy old man' had 'vigorously' slapped her bottom up to 10 times in January 2016, later adding that he had made her feel 'almost like a prostitute'.
Sir Philip has strenuously denied the allegations, as his lawyers said that 'there is no allegation of any sexual assault or misconduct made by the prosecution.'
It comes after Lord Hain said in the House of Lords that Sir Philip has had hundreds of grievance claims lodged against him, including grabbing breasts and slapping bottoms.
Ms Surridge has said 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 she told police that Sir Philip came back for another class in January 2018.
The pilates instructor (pictured) has alleged that the Arcadia fashion mogul touched her inappropriately
'This time, instead of slapping my butt, he puts his hands, like, he wraps his 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.
'And then the session ended and I immediately went upstairs to (management's) office and I was in tears and I said, 'He was told never to touch me again and here he is touching me again',' she told police.
A court date has been set for June 19 when Green will enter a plea. But the 67-year-old will not be expected to attend the hearing and the charges will be dealt with by his American lawyer.
It is understood Green has no plans to defend himself in person, but would travel to the US if required.
The charges are not serious enough for Green to be extradited to the US from his Monaco mansion. Last night Green vehemently denied the allegations.
Responding to the claims last night, Green's lawyer Ian Burton, a senior partner at top London firm BCL, said he was 'surprised and disappointed these charges have been made'. He added: 'Sir Philip strenuously denies the allegations.'
In the US crimes are a misdemeanour or a felony. Most serious crimes such as murder are felonies, which carry a longer jail term. More everyday matters like theft are misdemeanours. Some crimes can be either – such as assault
One witness corroborated Ms Surridge's (pictured) allegation and said he grabbed her bottom as if 'testing a piece of fruit'
Pictured: The ranch at which Sr Philip is alleged to have assaulted the mother-of-three repeatedly
Ms Surridge (pictured) claimed Sir Philip had made her feel 'almost like a prostitute' by repeatedly 'spanking' her and making lewd comments
A homeowner at the resort, described by police as an independent witness, gave an account to the detective of what she claims to have seen in 2016. Kimberly Khoury said Sir Philip grabbed her with his 'octopus-like hand'.
'I see his hand go reach out and, like, pat her buttocks,' Ms Khoury told the officer. 'And then pat it again and like, grab her buttocks. And then she kind of moved, like, startled a little bit. And took like a step away. And then he removed his hand and brought it back.
'I can't tell you what we talked about because I was so focused on what was happening with his ... uh, his octopus-like hand.'
They continued talking before he grabbed Ms Surridge's bottom again, Ms Khoury alleged.
She continued: 'And like, slaps, you know, spanks it, whatever, so like, taps it. And then grabs again and this happened in the course of like a minute-and-a-half, or two minutes.
'He did that three or four times. It was pretty clear that, to me, that she wasn't welcoming the behaviour.'
Sir Philip (pictured with his wife, Lady Green, and his daughter, Chloe, at the 70th Cannes Film Festival) has previously denied the allegations
Ms Khoury, who was 54 at the time of the police interview in February, said she found it 'disturbing' and spoke to senior management at the ranch.
Before the charging decision had been revealed, Sir Philip declined to comment on the statements made to police.
He said: 'I haven't seen any papers, so I don't know what papers you're talking about, or when they came, or what you've got. So, as far as I'm concerned, I've got no comment to make.'
BY RUTH SUTHERLAND
I’ve had a lot of tricky chats with Sir Philip Green over the years but none more awkward than last night when I found myself telling him that criminal charges had been filed against him in the US for smacking the bottom of a pilates instructor.
Sounding shell-shocked and hesitant, unlike his usual ebullient self, the tycoon told me he was not aware that criminal charges had been made.
So, I asked him, am I the first person to tell you that you have been charged?
He replied that he wasn’t aware that he had been – and then, with an uncharacteristic refusal to talk, or even to indulge in his usual salty language – he referred me to his lawyer.
The voluble tycoon, who normally assaults the ears of his listeners with torrents of words, had clammed up. He did, however, splutter indignantly when I asked him whether he had actually committed the assaults. Through his lawyers, he strenuously denies it.
What a contrast with a day earlier, when I had been discussing with him his plans to try to rescue his Arcadia store chains from going under.
Sir Philip’s manner then was sensible and business-like – no doubt he is desperate to avoid a repeat of the bad publicity when his former BHS empire went bust.
My call could not have come at a worse time for Sir Philip. He knows if he is to save Arcadia he needs to win the agreement of the Pensions Regulator, his landlords and other creditors for his proposals by Wednesday.
Now his efforts to stop Topshop and his other brands going to the wall have been overshadowed by yet more allegations of his conduct towards women. No wonder he sounded rattled.
Sir Philip, 67, has previously denied the allegations investigated by the Pima County Sheriff's Department.
A spokesman for Sir Philip, issued by Arcadia, said: 'Sir Philip strenuously denies these allegations and is disappointed that the charges have been filed in his absence and they are minor categories of misdemeanour in the United States.
'Sir Philip is not personally required to attend before the court at the forthcoming hearing and will be represented by his lawyer.
'Contrary to previous suggestions in the media there is no allegation of any
