Thorbjørn Olesen denies being in a party mood on London flight, court hears

Ryder Cup winner Thorbjørn Olesen was "embarrassed and felt horrible" after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman on a transatlantic flight, a court has heard. 

The Danish golfer, 31, is said to have "groped" the woman's chest and also "urinated" in the aisle during a British Airways flight in 2019. 

He allegedly became disruptive and swore at members of cabin crew on his flight from Nashville after competing at WGC FedEx St Jude in Memphis on 29 July.

Olesen denies charges of sexually assaulting a woman, assault by beating of a second woman and being drunk on an aircraft. 

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The jury have heard Olesen has no memory of his behaviour on board the plane. A member of cabin crew claimed Olesen "appeared highly intoxicated and totally spaced out," the BBC have reported.

Ian Poulter was on board the flight too, who told police Olesen was a "hard-working individual who is dedicated to his profession" and added that he had taken some sleeping pills but "had not given any tablets to Thorbjørn."

Poulter was described to the jury as helping Olesen to his seat. In Olesen's police interview on 29 July, Olesen was described as saying he "could remember getting on the plane and having some pills". 

Olesen had "five or six drinks" but denied he was drunk, stating he had taken up to four sleeping pills at the start of his flight. 

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During his defence, Olesen's QC Trevor Burke asked him about what happened that day. Olesen replied saying he was "just embarrassed and felt horrible". 

He told jurors: "I felt absolutely horrible and I was very sorry. I could not believe what they were saying happened."

Olesen told the jury he had not slept well for weeks after playing in several big tournaments. He said he took two Ambien sleeping pills that were put in his washbag by his partner, Lauren Zafer. 

The Dane told the jury he "felt fine" boarding the plane and that his last memory was "getting a glass of champagne and sitting down in my seat and I think I remember taking off". 

Olesen told the jury that he would have "never" have taken the sleeping pills if he knew they were prescription-only or that possible side-effects include "sleep walking" and "amnesia". 

Crown prosecutor, Maximilian Hardy, suggested he was in "a party mood" to which the Dane denied, suggesting he had not taken the pills or alcohol for fun, adding: "I wanted to try to sleep all the way to London."

Olesen, of west London, denies the charges. 

The trial continues. 

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