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| No Moore Court: Leaving Hammersmith Magistrates |
A wealthy New York banker, suspected of exposing himself while filming schoolgirls near Buckingham Palace, punched a female have-a-go, who chased him, in the face, shouting: “Get off me,” a court heard.
Robert Howard Moore, 57, who lives in a £3m two-bed apartment at in East 83rd Street, Manhattan was visiting his London girlfriend when he went alone to St. James’ Park.
When in the UK he lives in a nearby flat in Buckingham Gate, Victoria, a 16-storey landmark luxury development, where two-beds sell for £800,000.
Prosecutor Sharon Michael told Hammersmith Magistrates Court it was 1.30pm and a group of thirty Italian schoolchildren, aged between twelve to fourteen years-old, were in the park for lunch.
“He was sat alone and the witnesses saw he was unusually close to four of the schoolgirls, cross-legged with his mobile phone camera very close to his groin area.”
He was observed by a couple, Timothy and Nicole Dunkerley, the children’s tour guides, and the male of the pair walked behind Moore to get a better view of what he was up to.
The witness says Moore was exposing himself, but did not appear to give evidence at the trial so that charge was dropped.
“Indeed it is a fact his phone was seized by the police and downloads were captured of videos, including footage of girls sitting in the park,” added Mrs Michaels.
“It is not suggested it is in any sexual way, but we have a man sitting in a park very close to four girls, basically filming them.
“Tim Dunkerley was concerned and attempted to see what the man was doing and he confronted Mr. Moore, who then started running towards The Mall.
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| No Moore Pics: Camera Shy Banker |
“Nicole Dunkerley started chasing him and grabbed him by the collar, attempting to detain him and Mr. Moore responded by swinging his closed fist towards her, connecting with her mouth.
“No injury was caused.”
In her statement Mrs Dunkerley said: “He swung his arm around violently with a closed fist, hitting the top of my mouth, shouting: ‘Get off me.’”
Officers were alerted by the couple. “They were shouting: ‘Police! police!’ and pointing at the defendant.”
Moore, who maintains there was no footage of the park schoolgirls on his phone, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mrs Dunkerley and using threatening behaviour in The Mall on July 12.
He was fined a total of £1,216 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
He was also charged with exposing himself in St. James’ Park, but the prosecution dropped the case after their witnesses failed to travel from Italy.
When quizzed by police Moore denied exposing himself in the park on purpose, explaining: “I did not deliberately expose myself in St. James’s Park.
“I was wearing loose-fitting shorts and underwear and was secure.”
Police also asked Moore if he was a “predator” or “paedophile” or was “excited by young girls.”
Moore’s QC Mr. Mark Cotter told the court: “He recklessly swung out at the lady and struck her a blow and she does not dispute that she took hold of him.”
The court heard Moore was wearing shorts, sunglasses and a baseball hat and looked like a typical visitor. “He was out for a walk and sat down in St. James’ Park,” added the QC.
“He was on his telephone and this caused concern with the adults with the group of teenagers from Italy having their lunch.
“The male said words to the effect of: ‘Why don’t you f*** off’ and Mr. Moore accepts he raised his voice and said: ‘I will f*** off.’
“He started to jog away and the female took hold of his collar.
“There was an allegation of some kind of exposure, which he vehemently denies and if there was it must have been accidental.
“There were no videos or photos of these children on that phone.”
Moore, who spent two days in police custody while officers investigated the case, said in a statement: “I accept assault on a reckless basis.”
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