Crispin Odey Faces Court Over Sexual Harassment Allegations, Denies Key Incident
Hedge fund tycoon Crispin Odey has testified in court that he does not remember cornering a female employee after a boozy lunch and telling her "I could attack you now," as part of a high-stakes legal battle to overturn a ban from the UK's financial services industry. The 67-year-old, appearing in a London courtroom wearing a pink tie and braces, acknowledged the employee as an "attractive girl" but insisted he had no recollection of the alleged event, which was documented in her diary.
Diary Entry and Odey's Response
The diary entry, dated 24 January 2020, detailed the encounter: "Comes back from boozy lunch and corners me in the corridor. Him: I could attack you now. Me: Please don't. Him: You could sue me for that." When questioned about this, Odey stated, "Given that someone keeps a diary, I anticipate they are writing what they said, but when I read these things it's no surprise I don't remember them. They were words." He admitted to being unaware of the diary's existence until the court proceedings.
Past Incidents and Apologies
During his testimony, Odey confessed to groping a colleague's breasts without consent in 2005, attributing the behavior to sedatives taken after root canal treatment. He claimed the woman accepted his apology and continued working at the firm for eight more years. This admission is part of a broader pattern of allegations that have severely impacted his career, leading to his resignation in 2023.
Regulatory Battle and FCA Allegations
Odey is fighting to reverse the Financial Conduct Authority's decision to ban him from senior roles in the UK financial sector, arguing he showed a "lack of integrity" by allegedly obstructing an internal investigation into harassment claims. He denied these accusations, stating in his witness statement that he sought the FCA's ruling on his fitness first, fearing a hasty internal process. Odey asserted, "I became, I fear, a poster boy for the authority's agenda," suggesting the FCA targeted him to assert its reach over non-financial misconduct.
Additional Allegations and Personal Lawsuits
The court heard further details, including allegations from a receptionist in her mid-20s who declined a shooting weekend invitation in 2020, later being fired without a bonus. Odey described their relationship as "consensual" and called her a "flirt," but conceded his flirtations might have made him seem like a "creepy old man." He also faces a £79 million libel lawsuit against the Financial Times over articles alleging sexual assault, which he claims caused significant financial loss and led to the closure of his firm, OAM, in October 2023.
Self-Reflection and Future Proceedings
In his witness statement, Odey admitted to being "something of a dinosaur" who failed to adapt to modern workplace norms, acknowledging, "It was not right that members of staff felt uncomfortable because of my behavior." He is also confronting civil personal injury claims from five women, including one rape allegation, all of which he denies. These cases are scheduled for joint proceedings in June, as the current hearing continues to unfold.
