Sir Philip Green charged in US over claims he assaulted Pilates instructor

Sir Philip Green has been charged with four counts of misdemeanour assault in the US after a Pilates instructor alleged the Arcadia mogul repeatedly touched her inappropriately, prosecutors have said.

Katie Surridge told police in Arizona that Sir Philip spanked and grabbed her backside during classes in the Canyon Ranch luxury resort in Tucson in 2016 and 2018.

Pima County Attorney’s Office said on Friday that he has been charged with four counts of knowingly touching another person with the intent to injure, insult, or provoke.

Deputy county attorney Lauren Deakin told the Press Association: “Philip Green has been formally charged with four misdemeanour assault counts.

“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 500 US dollars, and up to one year of probation.”

An arraignment date has been set at Pima County Justice Court for June 19.

Sir Philip, 67, “strenuously” refuted the allegations made to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, with a spokesman saying he is “disappointed” the charges have been lodged.

“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,” a statement issued by Arcadia said.

“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 sexual assault or misconduct made by the prosecution.”

The mother-of-three, who is in her 30s, told Detective  David  Stivers in a police interview obtained by PA that the “creepy old man” had “vigorously” slapped her bottom up to 10 times in January 2016.

She alleged 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 Ms Surridge told police that Sir Philip came back for another class in January 2018.

“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 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.”

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.

The charges, which court records show were lodged on Wednesday, come during a turbulent time for the retail mogul.

He has been told to pour millions into his retail business Arcadia’s pension fund, as 50 stores are set to close, jeopardising hundreds of jobs.

The Croydon-born entrepreneur has also denied his behaviour was criminal or amounted to gross misconduct in the wake of a slew of allegations, including of groping a female executive and making a racial slur at an employee.

Canyon Ranch declined to comment on specifics but said it “does not condone or tolerate inappropriate behaviour towards our employees”.