Former world champion boxer Glenn McCrory has been cleared of sexual assault charges after allegedly calling a waitress "pet" and touching her elbow. A jury at the Old Bailey acquitted McCrory of three counts of sexual assault after just 90 minutes of deliberation.
Guest speaker at pre-fight dinner
McCrory, 59, had been invited as a guest speaker at the pre-fight dinner before the Anthony Joshua v Oleksandr Uysk world heavyweight title bout at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 26, 2021.
He stated that he touched the arms of three waitresses to get their attention and denied any flirtatious intent. McCrory told the jury that the word "pet" is commonly used by Geordies, and he did not remember touching the waitress in question.
Clear intentions
During the trial, CCTV footage was shown of McCrory at the dining hall entrance, where he is seen talking to one of the alleged victims and touching her elbow as he leaned down to speak to her. McCrory explained that he was asking for directions to his table and that the touch happened due to their difference in height.
He also mentioned that he did not receive a starter after being told it would be saved for him. McCrory claimed that when he tried to address this issue, one of the servers had a negative reaction to his use of the word "pet" while speaking to her.
Defending his actions
McCrory asserted that in the north-east of England, the word "pet" is a term of endearment and is commonly used to address young women. He claimed that he touched the waitress's elbow to get her attention after she turned her back on him. McCrory denied any sexual intent.
Normal behavior
The court saw CCTV footage of McCrory interacting with other guests at the event. Many individuals took selfies with the former champion as he hugged them and put his arms around them. McCrory confirmed that he is tactile with people when the environment allows it.
The boxer also mentioned that he has poor eyesight and often rubs his eyes and blinks excessively due to congenital problems and damage from his boxing career.
Not guilty on all charges
The women who accused McCrory claimed that he touched them inappropriately without consent, winked at them repeatedly, and slurred his words. McCrory, known as the "Northern Warrior," argued that he was misunderstood and that people in the north-east are often friendlier than those in London.
In his police interview, McCrory stated that he had no memory of touching a waitress but acknowledged that he may have done so to get her attention. He described the service as poor and recounted an incident where one server hurried away when he asked for the location of the restroom.
McCrory emphasized that using words like "pet" is normal in the north-east and that he did not intend to offend anyone. He expressed shock when he received a letter from the police notifying him of the complaints, as he was unaware that anything untoward had occurred that night.
Glenn McCrory, from Burnopfield, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, has been cleared of all charges of sexual assault.
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