Award-Winning Hair Stylist Molested Two 17 Year-Old Trainees

Suspended Sentence: Luckhurst

An award-winning hair stylist felt he had “a licence” to molest two 17 year-old trainees he took into a rear private area of his salons - groping their breasts and bums, a court heard yesterday.

Married father-of-two Alan Luckhurst, 36, was awarded the ‘Retailer of the Year’ prize while managing a Headmasters salon where he sexually assaulted the first victim.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard he was arrested and on bail for those offences when he molested the second victim at another salon Luckhurst opened himself.

The stylist, of Priors Barn House, Beaumont Drive, Worcester Park, Sutton, proudly published on social media a photo of himself and TOWIE star Mark Wright, who was guest of honour at one of those award ceremonies.

“Both were seventeen years-old and you were the manager and later the owner of two salons and you accepted apprentices from colleges to work in your salons and you sexually assaulted both of them,” said Recorder William Featherby KC.

“You went considerably further than ‘making passes’ when you took them into a private room at the rear of each premises under the pretence of discussing their progress.”

Luckhurst fought the charges, making both victims give evidence, but was convicted of six counts of sexually assaulting the first victim, plus one charge of sexual activity on various dates in 2017 at Headmasters Hair Salon, Twickenham

Regarding the second victim he was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual activity on various dates in 2021 at The Avenue salon, Sutton.

He was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and must sign the sex offenders register for seven years.

Luckhurst must also comply with an 18-month Community Order; attend 35 days of a sex offenders programme; comply with up to thirty days of a rehabilitation activity requirement and obey a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, prohibiting him employing staff under 18 years-old.

Luckhurst repeatedly touched the breasts of the first victim; placed his hand between her legs and pressed his groin against her bum. 

He also groped the breasts of the second victim and once made her touch him intimately between the legs.

All the offences involved groping over the girls’ clothing apart from one incident when he forced his hand under the second victim’s bra.

With TOWIE Star Mark Wright

“You plainly felt an attraction two these young women and felt you had some sort of licence to touch them,” Recorder Featherby told Luckhurst. “You made them both feel vulnerable and frightened.

“They continue to feel violated and vulnerable and these experiences put their careers in other directions.”

Luckhurst’s lawyer Kimberley Aiken told the court: “These convictions have been a massive blow to this man, who has built his career up. He has felt suicidal and his business has been limping on.

“The last six years have been an apocalypse for both him and his wife and they twice had to cancel their wedding when trials were listed and then cancelled.”

Luckhurst spent two years on police bail before the Crown Prosecution Service decided to charge him and his trial was further delayed by Covid and barristers strikes.

“He has already suffered a great deal,” added Ms Aiken. “It is not normal to have to wait his long.

“He understands he is here today to be punished and feels he has already been punished a great deal.

“Apart from these dreadful convictions he has had a positive stable life and adores his two children.

“He has had a pretty rotten wake-up call. He has had the shock of his life and now accepts he was in the wrong, late as it is.

“I ask the court to pass a sentence that allows Mr. Luckhurst to continue building his life, a charitable life rather than living a life in shame on the sex offenders register.

“It was another awful day in his life when the police visited his home.”

Recorder Featherby told Luckhurst: “Other than these offences you are a responsible person who has been involved in charitable works and fundraising.

“The financial impact on you and your family is considerable, running into the tens of thousands of pounds.

“These are multiple and repeated offences, but the Probation Service say you are at ‘low risk’ of re-offending.”

Midnight Stabbing At Mortlake Station

Transport cops have issued this CCTV image of two unknown males after a man was attacked with a knife - suffering serious injuries - at a south-west London railway station.

British Transport Police (BTP) are appealing for the assistance of the public in identifying the two males.

The incident happened near the entrance to Platform Two at around 12.20am on Sunday, February 19 at Mortlake station.

The victim suffered injuries to his chest and potentially life changing injuries to his arm.

Investigators would like to speak to the two men in the images who may have information that can help their investigation.

Anyone who knows them is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40.

In both cases, quote reference number 2300019141.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

England Fan Blames Two Mystery Men For F1 Star's £144K Designer Watch Robbery

Lando Norris at Euro 2020 Final

An England football fan, accused of robbing Formula One racing driver Lando Norris of his expensive designer watch at the Euro 2020 final, told his trial two mystery Londoners he met outside the stadium were responsible.

Trainee Bricklayer Liam Williams, 25, of Oak Street, Bootle, Merseyside denies snatching the McLaren star’s £144,000 Richard Mille timepiece from his wrist after the final, which England lost on penalties following a 1-1 draw with Italy.

His DNA was found on the racing driver’s wrist, but he told the Harrow Crown Court jury: “My DNA was there because I was with the people that day and it is secondary transfer.”

After failing to gain access to the final Williams says he watched the match on his mobile phone outside a Wembley pub with a group of locals.

“My DNA has been passed on by other people,” he told the trial. “It was lively, people were drinking and when we scored the penalties people were jumping up and grabbing each other, grabbing hands and celebrating.”

Norris, 23, was robbed of his unique RM 67-02 watch - one of only five in the world - while standing next to his bright orange £165,000 McLaren GT in the VIP car park after the July 11, 2021 final.

“After the match the two others that had left came back within an hour with the watch and were showing it,” Williams told the trial. “I didn’t know it had been robbed.

“They were in a circle looking at it and I just popped my head over and looked at it. I just thought they had found the watch or something.

“Within five minutes the two lads with the watch left us. They were both white, with London accents and short hair.”

He explained his movements earlier that day. “My intention was to go down and buy a ticket to watch the match in the stadium. I did not have a ticket and intended to purchase one outside the ground.”

Lando Norris with Richard Mille watch

He and three pals drove from Liverpool to north-west London in a black Mercedes, but all failed to buy a ticket for the final, he explained. 

When pressed by prosecutor Tyrone Silcott he could not give phone numbers or addresses for the trio, who he named as James Kelly; John Thompson and Dylan Jones.

“The price was too expensive so that was it,” he said. “We couldn’t buy any tickets so we tried to bunk into the ground and unfortunately I was the only one who did not get in.

“They got in behind someone else on someone else’s ticket.”

Williams said he bumped into a Londoner he knew from a Croatia music festival and ended up watching the final on his own mobile phone outside a Wembley pub.

“He was with two friends and he was selling cocaine and I bought some cocaine off him. I just do it at social events, it is not a weekly thing, not a regular thing.”

Williams said two more Londoners joined the group and all six of them watched the match on his phone.

The prosecution case is that Williams’ DNA was found on Norris’s scratched left wrist after the star driver was put into a headlock by a mystery male and the watch ripped off by an accomplice, which they say is the defendant.

Williams has pleaded not guilty to one count of robbing Norris outside the stadium between July 10 and 13, 2021.

Norris had driven with a friend called Max from the Goodwood Festival of Speed to attend the final and parked in the Yellow car park.

In his police statement he explained: “After attending Wembley Stadium I was speaking to members of the public and noticed Suspect One and Suspect Two walk around my car, while I was talking to other people.

“I noticed them looking at my car and myself and the first one was keeping his head down and had his right hand near his pocket.

“Suspect One slowly approached me and asked me: ‘Is this your car?’ I don’t recall exactly what happened, but Suspect One then went behind me and put his right arm around my neck and his left arm under my back.

“Suspect One pulled me into him and pulled me back on my neck, meaning I was facing the sky and I couldn’t see him at this point.

“Suspect One told Suspect Two to grab my watch. He shouted multiple times: ‘Grab the watch.’ 

“Suspect One was holding me the whole time and Suspect Two was trying to grab the watch. 

“He struggled for a while and then used force to pull the watch off, leaving scratches on my arm.”

Police officer David Barrett investigated and told the jury a 999 call reporting the robbery was made by witness Jason Parish at six minutes after midnight, but he did not wish to make a statement.

“He said: ‘I can’t really help you.’ He was not interested in getting involved and nobody else came forward.

“There was one other person sitting in a car, but they could not help and several people sitting in a coach said they did not really see anything, but were there, which was not very helpful,” said the officer.

Even Norris’ friend Max did not give additional assistance to the police investigation. “I did not get any statement at all from anybody. Everyone said: ‘I can’t help, I don’t want to get involved.’

“When I contacted them they did not want to give a statement. Nobody wanted to give me any statement at all and Max would not provide a statement.”

When officers visited the home of Williams’ parents in Bootle he was not there and they were given permission to search the address without a warrant.

Williams gave himself up to police on July 18, 2021 and when Norris was helicoptered in for an identity parade he failed to pick out the defendant.

Williams told the jury he ended the night at a party, where the two Londoners were also present. “I was told if I named anyone there would be consequences, I was threatened.

“They had the watch out at the party, but I did not really want to get involved. I realised the watch was stolen.”

Williams said he later abandoned his phone number because he was in danger. “I started receiving threats. My suspicion was these lads thought I would give them up for the reward.”

However, prosecutor Mr Silcott suggested there was a more sinister reason for why he stopped using the phone number. “You knew you committed this robbery and were worried about being traced.”

Williams replied: “I don’t agree with that.”

The prosecutor also accused Williams of shaving off his heard and shaving his head when he knew police were looking for him to foil identification, but the defendant claimed he had done this weeks before the match.

“You have waited until late in the day to give an account that fits the evidence and have used your legal shield to avoid giving an account until the very last moment so the facts you give cannot be checked,” suggested Mr Silcott.

“That’s not true,” replied Williams, who is of good character, telling the court he took the advice of a solicitor to not answer police questions.

Referring to grainy CCTV footage of the two robbery suspects the prosecutor said: “That’s you waking with your spoils isn’t it? It was you who robbed Lando Norris that evening.

“One of you pulled his neck back and the other pulled the watch off his wrist.”

“You are just making that assumption,” replied Williams. “I am not telling a story. I am giving my account.”

Trial continues………….  

Formula One Star Lando Norris Robbed Of £144K Designer Watch At Euro 2020 Final

F1 Star: Lando Norris Wearing Watch

Formula One racing driver Lando Norris was violently robbed of his £144,000 Richard Mille designer watch when returning to his sports car after the Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium, a court heard.

The 23 year-old McLaren star was put in a headlock by one unknown male and the unique RM 67-02 watch - specifically designed for the racer - was violently ripped from his wrist by a second man.

Harrow Crown Court heard Liam Williams, 25, of Oak Street, Bootle, Merseyside was the man who snatched the watch, leaving his DNA on the racing driver’s wrist.

He has pleaded not guilty to one count of robbing Norris outside the stadium on July 11, 2021, following England’s defeat to Italy on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Norris had driven his bright orange £165,000 McLaren GT sports car from the Goodwood Festival of Speed to attend the final and parked in the Yellow car park.

Prosecutor Tyrone Silcott told the jury: “Some of you interested in football may recall that day, the day England lost the Euro final at Wembley.

“Mr Norris attended that game and when returning to his car after the match he was robbed of his watch by two men. The Crown’s case is that this defendant is one of those two men.

Lando Norris attended the Euro 2020 Final

“We all agree, both the Crown and defence that Mr Norris was robbed. We don’t have to decide if there was a robbery and there is no dispute  two men stole his watch.

“The case boils down to one question. Are you sure the defendant was one of those two robbers? If you are you will convict him.”

In his statement of July 12 Norris told police he parked his McLaren in the VIP area, after travelling to the final with a friend called Max.

He returned to the sports car at around midnight and posed for a photo with one fan and chatted to members of the public, milling around his distinctive vehicle.

“After attending Wembley Stadium I was speaking to members of the public and noticed Suspect One and Suspect Two walk around my car, while I was talking to other people.

“I noticed them looking at my car and myself and the first one was keeping his head down and had his right hand near his pocket.

Suspect One slowly approached me and asked me: ‘Is this your car?’ I don’t recall exactly what happened, but Suspect One then went behind me and put his right arm around my neck and his left arm under my back.

“Suspect One pulled me into him and pulled me back on my neck, meaning I was facing the sky and I couldn’t see him at this point.

“Suspect One told Suspect Two to grab my watch. He shouted multiple times: ‘Grab the watch.’ 

“Suspect One was holding me the whole time and Suspect Two was trying to grab the watch. 

“He struggled for a while and then used force to pull the watch off, leaving scratches on my arm.

“When Suspect One had his arm around my neck  Suspect Two managed to get the watch off my left wrist and they ran through the pedestrian walkway to Rutherford Way.

“From there I do not know where they went. My view was blocked.”

Recalling the details the racing driver added: “Suspect One was pretty close as he put his arm around my neck.

“Suspect Two was ten feet way and I saw Suspect One for around ten seconds and the interaction was around thirty seconds, not very long.”

The racer gave a second interview on February 12, last year, confirming he did not know Williams and due to covid had no contact with strangers in the stadium.

Giving more detail Mr Silcott added: “He parked a nice bright orange McLaren motorsport vehicle and as he went back to his car he was speaking to members of the public.

“He noticed two men walk around his car and one approached, asking: ‘Is this your car?’

“He went behind Mr Norris and grabbed him. He put his right arm around his neck and his left arm behind his back and pulled Mr Norris backwards, causing him to look at the sky.

“The one pulling him back called the accomplice to grab the watch and the other man pulled the watch from his wrist and as he did, scratched his left wrist.

“Mr Norris was able to describe one as a white male of average build, short hair aged mid twenties to thirties that he thought had a London accent.

“This defendant does not have a London accent,” added Mr Silcott. “He also described the first man as wearing a black hooded jacket and black trousers.

“The second male was wearing grey clothing and he had a hood up and Mr Norris did not see this male, he was standing back and does not believe he would recognise this male again.”

Poor CCTV recorded the incident. “You can see someone going behind the figure and pull them back, but there is no way you can make an identification from the CCTV.”

The watch was described as a prototype limited edition, with a made-to-measure blue strap, designed to fit the racing driver and has never been available to the retail public.

Two swabs were taken from Mr Norris’s left wrist, which revealed it was 37 million times more likely Williams’ DNA was present than an unknown person.

Analysis of his mobile phone also revealed a journey from Liverpool to the Wembley Stadium area on July 11, where he remained until the early hours of July 12 before returning home on July 13.

“There is no sensible explanation for his DNA to be on that scratched wrist.”

At an identity line up the racing driver was unable to pick out Williams and the jury were shown photos of the stolen watch.

Trial continues……….  

Railway Station Bike Bandit

Do you recognise this man?

British Transport Police (BTP) have released this CCTV image after two high value bikes were stolen at Watford Junction railway station in Hertfordshire.

The offence happened on Wednesday, January 11.

A man is alleged to have stolen two bicycles from the bike racks.

Officers would like to speak to the man in the image who may have information that could help their investigation.

Anyone who knows him is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40.

In both cases, quote reference number 2300005639.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Drunken Met Police Officer Harassed Ex-Girlfriend

Unmasked: Officer Kye Cole

A heavy-drinking Metropolitan Police Detective Constable, who refused to accept the break-up of his relationship, harassed his ex-girlfriend with thousands of messages, often threatening suicide and claiming he was travelling to her family home, a court heard.

Kye Cole, 37, made approximately 23,000 calls and texts over a twelve-month period to former partner Lucy Selby, who was forced to quit her job, move home and scrap her entire social life.

Cole, of Cortis Road, Putney fought a charge of harassing social worker Ms Selby between April 7 and 27, last year, but was convicted after a trial at Wimbledon Magistrates Court in which the victim gave evidence.

He received an eighteen-month Community Order, which includes a three-month alcohol treatment requirement and thirty days of a rehabilitation activity requirement.

Cole must also complete 150 hours of community service; pay £2,500 compensation to his ex; £775 courts costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

The couple began dating in October 2020, before moving in together in April 2021, but the relationship was damaged by arguments and Cole’s alcohol problem.

Ms Selby left the police officer in April, last year, but complained: “Kye does not take no for an answer,” and continued receiving harassing phone calls and texts from him. 

Harassed: Lucy Selby

She told the court: “I have become accustomed to Kye sending me excessive amounts of text messages. When he drinks he would send approximately 200 messages a day along with 40 calls.

“None were threatening. At the most Kye would say that he will kill himself if I did not respond and I would usually respond to those messages.

“I am concerned regarding Kye’s professional commitment. The messages I saw included him booking massage appointments during work hours.

“All I want is for Kye to stop contacting me.”

Things came to a head when Cole sent her pictures of his supposed journey from London to Manchester, near the family home where she and her four siblings grew up and her parents still live.

“That incident left me feeling unnerved and uncomfortable. I live in a small village and wondered what would have happened had he found my address or bumped into anyone I knew.

‘The people I live with have their own vulnerabilities and this would not have been fair on them. The relentless nature of Kye’s behaviour made me feel helpless and filled with despair.”

District Judge Simon Heptonstall told him: “I heard your trial and what you had done and even though the length of the charge is three weeks there was a lot happening over a longer period that was intense and caused by your drinking.

“You were not accepting of the end of the relationship and you attempted to exert control by threatening suicide and had a plan to go from London to her family’s home, which you backed-up with photographs you sent her.

“She would have expected to feel safe in her childhood home as would her family and your behaviour effected her siblings and parents as well.

“When she saw someone who looked like you near the family home she felt despair and helplessness.

“She changed jobs and moved home and feared you could track her down.

“You realised fear would have been caused and said you would not have done it if you had not been drinking.

“This was very serious distress caused and Ms Selby changed how she goes out and socialises and had had to change her friendship group and how she relates to other people.

“It is an aggravating factor that you were in drink and caused serious harm.”

Cole’s lawyer Kiera Oluwunmi told the court: “He has lost his good character and a misconduct hearing is due that he knows will result in the loss off his career.

“He has had a fifty thousand pounds inheritance from his father that will allow him to keep his life on track until he finds a new job and put a deposit down on  a home.

“He has addressed his alcohol use, which was triggered by the death of his father and lockdown and is extremely remorseful for his actions.”

The court heard there had been a recent relapse, with Cole drinking three bottles a day.

“He does need to rebuild his life and is extremely sorry,” added the lawyer.

District Judge Heptonstall told Cole: “You were of good character. You wouldn’t have had the job that you had otherwise. 

“In fact, you have positive good character and you have served in the police service for a number of years. You have served the community.

“Relating to this offence you did not abuse your position as a police officer to a significant extent.

“This is a case where I can draw back from custody, but there will be a significant Community Order. You need to be punished.”

In her victim impact statement Ms Selby said: “The past nine months have been a process of me rebuilding my life, piece by piece in which every area of my life has been altered.”

She is in a new relationship, but finds the habits she developed to satisfy jealous and controlling Cole remain.

“I had been conditioned into a habit from when I was with Kye of working out in my mind how I could engineer a situation where I could take a photo, which would prove that there was a female friend present and I was not alone in a pub with a guy.

“There have been a couple of occasions in August and November when I felt suicidal,” she added, recalling an incident when an Apple store employee questioned why she had 23,000 calls in just twelve months.

“To conclude, despite everything I don’t hold any kind of resentment or bitterness towards Kye.”

PCSO Guilty Of Sexually Assaulting WPC In Station Gym

Kiss: Oniba

A Police Community Support Officer, who left a WPC in tears after hugging and kissing her on the neck in the station’s basement gym, has been convicted of sexual assault.

PCSO Edward Oniba, 54, was alone with the female officer at Kilburn Police Station and had previously showered her with compliments, which she told the trial were “creepy.”

Oniba, of Pasteur Court, Nightingale Avenue, Harrow was found guilty of one count of sexual assault at the Salusbury Road, station in north-west London on October 30, 2020.

At Harrow Crown Court he was sentenced to a twelve-month Community Order, which includes 100 hours of community service work.

“He said: ‘How about a hug then?’ I don’t like hugging people, let alone strangers and said: ‘ Gosh, no I’m sweaty’ at which point he moved forward and put his arms around me,” she told the court.

“I tapped him on the back and he’s kissed the right side of my neck. I was not sweaty, I just didn’t want him to hug me,” the officer added.

She abandoned her work-out due to Oniba staring at her, she said. “I don’t know if it was like a leer, but like a ‘hmmm…’ so I left.

“He was just looking at me as I was doing lunges and as I was doing mountain climbers he looked around the door.

“I was a little disgusted, shocked and frustrated that I didn’t asked him: ‘What do you think you are doing?’

“I think it is completely disgusting. I don’t see how he feels he has the right to kiss me on the neck, that’s incredibly personal.”

The Metropolitan Police officer of nine years told the court she had only spoken to Oniba for the first time a week before the incident.

She worked-out in a small area by the lift shaft next to the gym either before or after shifts and Oniba was the only person in the basement on that occasion.

“He asked questions like, was I married?,” she told jury, confirming she informed the defendant she had a police officer boyfriend.

“He said something like: ‘The good-looking ones are always taken,” and that he did not know why I was working-out because I looked good.

“He said he had not seen me in the gym for a while and always saw me going into work, walking past and he would check me out.

“I laughed it off as it was a work gym and it was a compliment, but there is a line to being creepy and he crossed that line to being weird.”

When she started her work-out a week later Oniba was there again. “I thought: ‘I really don’t want to be in this situation.’ I just wanted to get on with my work-out.

“He came out of the gym to talk to me and asked what team I worked on  and I told him the Response Team. He said: ‘Oh, I’d join if I knew you were there.’

“I told him I was leaving the team anyway and he said: ‘If you’re leaving you’ll have to give me your number.’

“I told him my partner would not like that, but he kept asking ‘if you are sure’ about five times.”

Oniba then moved into hug the petite officer, whose back was against the lift shaft wall, the court heard, but he denies placing his lips on her neck.

After abandoning her work-out the officer messaged a friend: ‘Ed is in the gym and he’s f***ing creepy.’

The friend responded that it was important the complainant’s police officer boyfriend did not find out. “He’s going to break quarantine and possibly someone’s face.”

The officer did not report Oniba immediately, messaging a friend: “I’d rather it if the world did not know.”

Four months later she made an anonymous complaint to the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards and their investigation identified both her and Oniba.

Prosecutor Peter Rouch KC said: “Apart from a polite ‘hello’ prior to the week before the incident the complainant had not spoken to this defendant or know his name.

“He carried on a conversation  a week before the incident in a personal and familiar way, saying things like: ‘You look good.’

“It was 7.45pm when she went to the gym and no-one else was there except the defendant, who removed his headphones when he saw her and began talking to her.

“She made it clear to him she was not giving him her telephone number.

“She was standing with her back to the lift shaft and the defendant was gradually getting closer to her and asked her if he could have a hug.

“He put both of his arms around her and hugged her and kissed her on the neck.

“She said she was going to complete her work-out, but was so upset by his behaviour she left and in tears telephoned a friend, a police officer and told them what had happened.”

The WPC WhatsApp messaged two other friends with a similar account of what happened.

“Another work colleague says she was sounding upset on the telephone and then found her at the station crying and later another police officer said she was still upset.”

A few moths later Oniba - attached to the North West Basic Command Unit - was working-out in the gym with a male police officer, the prosecutor told the jury. 

“This defendant told him he had been in the gym and there was a female police officer there that he found attractive and asked for her telephone number and that she said ‘no’ and he hugged her and kissed her on the neck.”

Oniba was questioned on May 27, 2021. “The defendant admitted hugging her, but absolutely denied kissing her on the neck.

“It is our case  he kissed her in the way described, totally without her consent.”

After the verdict Chief Superintendent Dan Knowles, in charge of the North West Basic Command Unit said: “I am absolutely appalled by PCSO Oniba’s completely inappropriate behaviour, which has absolutely no place in the Met.

“No one should be subject to sexual assault, especially in their place of work. I would like to thank the victim for coming forward and speaking up about her colleague’s unacceptable behaviour.

“PCSO Oniba has been convicted and will now face the consequences.”

He remains suspended from duty a misconduct proceedings will follow.

City Tech Exec's Boozy Bum Grope

An IT specialist with a City tech company groped a young female trainee’s bum after a drunken team bonding session at a crazy golf venue, a court heard today.

The Moorgate firm funded a free bar at ‘Swingers’, in the heart of the Square Mile, where business development director Michael Swain, 35, drank heavily along with his colleagues, Inner London Crown Court heard.

When they continued drinking at the nearby ‘Slug & Lettuce’ pub he came behind the 23 year-old trainee, put his hand between her legs and groped her bum.

Swain, of Valkyrie Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex had fought the case for four years, but after two hours of damning evidence changed his plea to guilty of one count of sexual assault at the City pub on September 13, 2019.

“She felt somebody grab her bottom, coming from underneath and his hand was between her legs,” said prosecutor Fer Chinner. “She saw that it was this defendant who touched her.

“She was in shock and said: ‘He’s just grabbed my bum.’ She was angry and was seen crying and went to the Ladies to calm down.”

When she reported Swain to her bosses the following Monday he remained with the company after apologising during disciplinary proceedings, but she was so upset she resigned.

“She had been with the company for four months and Swain was known in the company to be a top performer, bringing in big revenues,” the prosecutor told the jury.

“They had quarterly team building days and after an 11am presentation they had lunch and then went to play crazy golf at ‘Swingers’.

“There was a free bar there, funded by the company, and by all accounts people were taking advantage and drinking quite a lot of alcohol.”

The company even had a beer tap in their office and enjoyed celebratory ‘Friday Shouts’ drinking sessions, congratulating staff for achievements during the week.

“They split into team to play golf and a colleague of Swain noted he ‘did not seem himself’ putting it down to also getting drunk the night before.”

Swain later told police he had attended a charity function the previous evening, followed by a trip to the casino, where he won £6,000, bought everybody drinks and had only two hours sleep that night.

Swain’s golf team included the complainant and another woman. “They were drunk, all of them. They had all been drinking,” explained Ms Chinner.

“This defendant asked the other woman: ‘Can I touch her inappropriately?’ referring to the complainant and then told the trainee herself: ‘She says I can’t touch you inappropriately.’

“The complainant put this down to being drunk and carried on and felt nothing of it.

“He then told her: ‘I’m going to take some cocaine,’ and offered her some, but she declined.”

At around 5.30pm a group of 15 went to the ‘Slug & Lettuce’ and continued drinking. 

“Swain was noted to be more drunk than the others and a colleague saw him grab another woman’s bottom and when she moved away he apologised and backed-off.”

Half an hour later the complainant was chatting to colleague Thomas Brook, when she felt Swain grope her from behind, the court heard.

“He got more intoxicated as the day went on,” Mr Brook told the trial. “I could see him stepping backwards and his hand coming away from her bottom.

“Initially there was a shock factor to it.”

The trial heard Swain was known as a “high flier” who “brought huge amounts of money into the company.”

Mr Brook agreed. “It is known within the company who the fast progressing members of the team are and who were bringing in large sales.”

Another colleague confronted Swain, saying: “You just assaulted her,” and the defendant replied: “Sorry. I f***ed up,” the jury were told.

“When she returned from the Ladies Swain apologised and she complained to HR and during disciplinary proceedings this defendant wrote a letter of apology to her.

“He wrote that he had little memory of the incident and was disappointed with himself.

“He was allowed to stay on and the complainant was very uncomfortable because Swain did not seem to stick by his apology and she handed in her resignation.”

Another colleague David Igbinovia told the jury: “I saw him with his hand. It definitely contacted the backside, the bum.

“She was mortified, absolutely shocked and I was as well. I said: ‘Michael, what the f*** are you doing? We are family here. You just assaulted her.

“She went to the toilet and she was in tears at that point and he said: ‘I’m sorry. I f***ed up.’

“She was quite concerned about reporting this, with him being so high up in the company.” 

Swain was questioned by police two weeks later and denied ever offering the young woman cocaine. He also said he was still drunk from the night before when he began drinking again.

“He accepted he touched her bottom through drunken boisterousness and it was not a sexual thing,” said Ms Chinner.

After Swain - who is no longer with the company - changed his plea to guilty Judge Jane Rowley bailed him until May 25 for sentencing, announcing: “I will be considering all options, including imprisonment.

“There may be other options. We need to see why he behaved this way because there is nothing to suggest he has done anything like this in the past.

“The complainant has waited months, years to give evidence due to the initial not guilty plea and I would appreciate a victim impact statement.”