Crispin Odey is facing criminal proceedings over an alleged indecent assault on a woman in 1998, the Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed.
The Evening Standard first reported the hedge fund boss and founder of Odey Asset Management has been charged by police over an incident that took place in Chelsea more than two decades ago.
According to the single charge, Odey has been accused under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 with “indecently assaulting a woman over the age of 16” on 13 July, 1998.
Odey said in a statement: “The allegation is denied and I will strongly contest this matter.”
The alleged incident is said to have happened in Swan Walk in Chelsea near to the river Thames, where Odey owns a home and a series of his businesses are registered, the paper reported.
Odey’s case was due to be heard at Westminster magistrates’ court next week but has been delayed until 28 September because of the backlog caused by Covid-19.
The court warned, however, Odey’s first appearance may be delayed even further.
He has yet to enter a plea to the charge of indecent assault.
Odey is married to veteran fund manager Nichola Pease who is non-executive chairman of Jupiter.
This story has been updated to reflect the year of the alleged incident as 1998, not 1999
