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PA Media
As Christopher Holmes, he represented Nice Britain at 4 Paralympic Video games
A Paralympic swimming champion grabbed a therapeutic massage therapist’s buttocks throughout a remedy and requested if she “did extras”, a court docket has heard.
Lord Holmes of Richmond, who’s blind, informed police he touched the girl on her face and shoulders, Southwark Crown Courtroom was informed.
Nonetheless, he denies sexually assaulting her as she massaged him at a five-star lodge in central London final March.
He was elevated to the Home of Lords by the Conservatives in 2013.
Prosecutor Linda Strudwick informed jurors the 48-year-old peer groped the girl close to the tip of his 90-minute remedy on 7 March 2019.
Ms Strudwick stated: “He requested: ‘Can I see the way you look?”https://www.bbc.co.uk/”
The girl was “uncertain of what he meant” however agreed, assuming he would contact her face as she thought “this was what blind folks do”, the court docket heard.
The previous swimmer ran Paralympic integration for the 2012 Video games and took his seat on the Home of Lords the next yr
In a press release given to police that was heard in court docket, Lord Holmes stated he touched the girl on her face and shoulders earlier than resting his palms on her across the degree of her hips.
Jurors had been informed she then tried to maneuver away.
Ms Strudwick continued: “Mr Holmes stopped her by grabbing her buttocks. He stated ‘good’ and he requested if he might contact her boobs.”
He then requested if she “did extras”, whereas pointing to his crotch, the court docket heard.
‘No intention’
Lord Holmes informed police: “It’s clearly a bit unusual to be massaged by somebody with out figuring out what they appear like.
“As I’m basing my recollection solely on contact, I can’t be positive precisely the place my palms rested however there was completely no intention to the touch her in a sexual means.”
The Paralympian, who gained 9 gold medals and broke 35 world information throughout his swimming profession, is at the moment non-affiliated and doesn’t belong to any parliamentary group.
The trial continues.