Crispin Odey has been discovered not responsible of indecently assaulting a younger girl at his London home greater than twenty years in the past.
Odey, one of the UK’s best-known hedge fund managers, mentioned he was “embarrassed” by the incident in summer season 1998 at his home in Swan Walk, Chelsea however denied the one cost in opposition to him.
Odey, 62, had informed Westminster Magistrates’ Court the girl, who can’t be recognized for authorized causes, was “exaggerating, massively” in her account of what occurred.
Judge Nicholas Rimmer informed the court docket right now that he couldn’t dismiss the chance that Odey solely verbally propositioned the girl, who can’t be named for authorized causes.
He mentioned: “I’m left not sure of (the complainant’s account) as a result of regardless of the power of her emotion and tears, her credibility has been thrown into query and her proof is riddled with troubling inconsistencies.”
Odey described the impression of the allegation as “a horrible factor, a horrible slur”
(Image: PA)
Odey, who was 39 on the time, whereas the girl was in her mid-20s, is alleged to have put his hand down her shirt to the touch her breast and to have put his hand up her skirt.
The two-and-a-half-day trial beforehand heard that the girl described the alleged assault as “like an octopus expertise”.
Odey mentioned he acquired an electronic mail from her in 2013 accusing him of groping her, which he described as “nothing like my very own recollection of the night”.
He informed the court docket he responded, searching for to “conciliate her”.
He mentioned: “It was one thing I did not need to come out. It was deeply embarrassing.”
Odey mentioned he solely informed his spouse, Nichola Pease, who can also be a hedge fund manager and has supported him all through the trial, in regards to the incident in 2017 after the alleged sufferer went to police amid the #MeToo motion.
He informed defence counsel Crispin Aylett QC the impression of the allegation on him was “horrible”.
He mentioned: “It is a horrible factor, a horrible slur.”
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