UK retailer Philip Green denies U.S. assault charges

British retailer Philip Green, whose Arcadia Group owns major fashion chains such as TopShop, denied on Friday assault charges that had been filed in a U.S. court.

“Sir Philip strenuously denies these allegations and ... they are minor categories of misdemeanour in the United States,” Arcadia Group said in a statement on Green’s behalf.

“Contrary to previous suggestions in the media there is no allegation of any sexual assault or misconduct made by the prosecution,” the statement continued.

The British retail tycoon has been charged with four counts of misdemeanour assault in the United States after an Arizona pilates instructor accused him of repeatedly touching her inappropriately, Britain’s Press Association reported on Friday.

The billionaire chairman of Arcadia Group, Green, 67, is accused of spanking the instructor and grabbing her buttocks at the Canyon Ranch resort in Tucson in 2016 and 2018, according to the Pima County Attorney’s Office, the PA reported.

The charges carry a sentence of up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine, the PA reported, citing Lauren Deakin, a deputy in the prosecutor’s office. Pima County court records posted online showed Green was due to appear for an arraignment hearing for the four charges on June 19, but the full criminal complaint was not immediately available.

Arcadia Group’s statement said that Green did not plan to attend the hearing in person.

A spokeswoman for the country attorney’s office did not respond to requests for confirmation.