Thorbjorn Olesen pleads not guilty sexual assault charge
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Thorbjorn Olesen has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault and being drunk on an aircraft
The Ryder Cup star, named as Jacob Thorbjorn Olesen in court, pleaded not guilty to three charges during a hearing at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday.
Olesen, 29, only spoke to confirm his personal details and deny the charges, which the court heard included having sexually touched a woman without her consent during his flight back from Nashville to London on July 29. He also faces a charge of assault by beating against a second person.
The five-time European Tour winner was flying back to London following the WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational in Memphis, and he was arrested when the plane landed. He was subsequently suspended by the European Tour pending the outcome of the legal proceedings.
He had previously indicated that he intended to plead not guilty.
A trial date has been set for the 11th of May, 2020.
Why was Thorbjorn Olesen arrested?
Olesen was met by police at Heathrow airport on the 29th July after travelling on a BA flight from Nashville to London following his T27 at the WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational in Memphis.
He was accused of molesting a woman and urinating in the aisle, as well as failing to comply with the orders of cabin crew on the BA flight.
He was originally released ‘under investigation’ before being charged by ‘postal requisition’, and indicated he would plead not guilty to the charges when he appeared at the court.
Olesen then appeared at a short court hearing at Isleworth Crown Court on September 19 in relation to the charges. A plea hearing date was then set for December 13, and a trial date has now been set for May 11, 2020.
