Thorbjørn Olesen said the harassment that led to the charges was due to a sleeping medicine bought from a “suspicious” online store.
8.12. 13:48 | Updated 8.12. 21:42
Ryder Cup winner Thorbjørn Olesen cried on Wednesday in a London courtroom after he was acquitted of all charges related to a flight in the summer of 2019.
Olesen from Denmark was charged with sexual harassment, among other things.
Olesen defended himself The Guardian According to him, the charges against him were, among other things, that his confusion on the plane was only due to prescription sleeping pills that his girlfriend had purchased from a “suspicious” online store.
“I’ve learned from my mistake and I’ll make sure I never put myself in a similar situation again. Now I want to focus on golf without interruption and pay back the trust to all those who have trusted me during this very difficult time, ”Olesen said after the court ruling.
Earlier, Olesen said in court he was “ashamed and“ feeling creepy ”after hearing allegations of how he had drunken a woman on a British Airways flight from the United States to Britain. The incident occurred in July 2019.
The 31-year-old Dane was on the flight with a few other professional players. Among them were the English Ian Poulter and Justin Rose.
According to the news agency AFP, witnesses described the accused’s use as “completely strange”. The five-time European tour winner was ranked 51st on the world list at the time. He was on an eight-hour flight from Nashville to London.
In London, a court heard how Olesen had run around the cabin “like a little boy”, couldn’t use the toilet door and used outrageous language when cabin crew tried to put him under control.
Olesen was said to have pushed one employee, kissed the other hand, and touched the woman’s chest.
Olesen was eventually escorted to his first place in the first class, where he cried before falling asleep but later urinated into another passenger seat.
In London resident Olesen denied being guilty of sexual harassment, assault and being intoxicated on the flight.
According to Olesen’s testimony, he would never “knowingly” jeopardize his career by committing a crime, and he has no memories of the flight after he had taken sleeping pills.
“I feel horror and I’m sorry. I couldn’t believe what they said happened. I’m ashamed and I feel creepy. ”
According to Olesen, he had been okay after boarding the plane.
“My last memory is enjoying a glass of champagne, and I remember getting up.”
He said he does not remember any events of which he is accused.
“My first memory is seeing the police. I didn’t know exactly where I was. I was confused and shocked. ”
During the prosecutor’s interrogation, Olesen denied being in a “festive mood” and vehemently denied taking pills for fun with alcohol.
The court heard how, after his arrest, Olesen lost extensive co-operation agreements with Nike, BMW, Rolex and Titleist and also lost his right to play on the European tour.
Olesen has dropped from the world top 400.
“It’s been hard to focus and play when I don’t know if I’ve ruined my career.”
.
#Golf #Danish #Ryder #Cup #winner #interrupted #flight #acquitted #charges
