FORMER world champion boxer Glenn McCrory has been cleared of sexual assault charges after he allegedly called a waitress “pet” and touched her elbow.
A jury at the Old Bailey found the star not guilty of three counts of sexual assault after deliberating for just 90 minutes.
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Glenn McCrory outside the Old Bailey today after being acquitted of sexual assault Credit: Central News
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McCrory with his world championship belt in 1990. Credit: Getty
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McCrory fights Lennox Lewis at the Royal Albert Hall Credit: PA
McCrory, 59, was the guest speaker at the pre-fight dinner ahead of the Anthony Joshua-Olexandr Uysk world heavyweight title fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 26, 2021.
He said he only touched the hands of three waitresses to get their attention.
Prosecutors claimed he deliberately used the term ‘pet’ in an overly flirtatious way – but the boxer told the jury the word was commonly used by Geordies.
The former world boxing champion said that when he arrived at the venue the member of staff who greeted him did not know who he was and could not find his name on the guest list.
McCrory said he had to bend down to talk to her because she was tiny and it was noisy, but he didn’t remember touching her.
He said: “I just leaned over. I might have touched her elbow but I’m a big guy so I would never be forceful.”
The court was shown CCTV footage of McCrory at the entrance to the dining room where he is seen talking to one of the alleged victims.
He can clearly be seen touching her elbow with his hand as he bent down to talk to her.
He told jurors that he asked her where his desk was, and that he touched her elbow because of the difference in height.
Scott Brady, defending, asked: “Do you think you meant to flirt?”
The ex-fighter replied: ‘No.’ He also denied winking at her.
After giving his speech, which lasted 20-30 minutes, McCrory returned to his desk.
He said he didn’t get a starter, after being told one would be held for him.
McCrory said that when he tried to bring this up, one of the servers had an “aggressive reaction” to his use of the word “pet” while talking to her.
He said, “Everyone at the table noticed the reaction.”
All I wanted to do was grab dinner and watch the fight
Glenn McCrory
McCrory added that in North East England the word ‘pet’ is a term of endearment and is often used to address young women in the same way you might address a man as ‘mate’.
He said that when she returned to his table, he tried to get her attention to ask about his appetizer.
The boxing star said: “She turned her back on me when I tried to talk to her, clearly ignoring me, so I touched her elbow.
“I was trying to get her attention. She turned around and said it was in the bin.
“All I wanted to do was grab my dinner and watch the fight.”
CCTV footage shown in court showed McCrory interacting with other guests at the event.
Numerous people took selfies with the former champion as he hugged and hugged them.
“You’re very tactile with these people,” Mr. Brady said.
McCrory agreed, adding, “If they’re friendly, I’m in the right environment.”
He added that this is the way he normally communicates with others at such events.
Mr Brady asked him: “If you were touching those waitresses… was there anything sexual about it?”
McCrory replied, “Absolutely not.” He also said that he has poor eyesight and a scar on his eyes due to congenital problems and damage sustained during his boxing career.
Because of this, he may rub his eyes and blink often.
The women alleged that McCrory touched them sexually without their consent, repeatedly winked at them and slurred his words.
That’s how we talk. It’s part of Geordie.
Glenn McCrory
McCrory – a cruiser once known as the ‘Northern Warrior’ – insisted he had been misunderstood and that people in the North East were friendlier than in London.
In an interview with the police, he said that he did not remember touching the waitress, but that he only did it to get their attention.
He described the service as ‘very poor’ and said one waitress was ‘cut short’ when he approached her to ask where the toilet was.
McCrory said the use of words such as ‘pet’ was normal in the North East of England and he had not intended to cause any offence.
He explained: “That’s how we talk. It’s part of Geordie.
“I could have called her dear, pet, but 100 percent as we speak.’
He said he did not know anything untoward had happened that night and was ‘stunned’ when he later received a letter from the police informing him of the complaints.
Asked if he intended to cause stress or alarm to any of the waitresses, he replied: “Absolutely not.”
McCrory, of Burnopfield, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, denied and was acquitted of three charges of sexual assault.
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Former world champion in action against Patrick Lumumba in 1989. Credit: Getty
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: newstars.edu.vn