Indecent Assault Charges
On 18 December 2002, whilst still working at Ideal World, Steve Whatley appeared at Peterborough Magistrates' Court, charged with indecently assaulting a fellow employee four times over a 17 month period during 2000 and 2001. He was accused of groping a female employee three times and once licking her face.
He pleaded "not guilty" to all four counts of indecent assault. The case was adjourned to Peterborough Crown Court until 3 February 2003, and Whatley was granted bail.
On 11 July 2003, after a four day trial, the jurors unanimously cleared Whatley of three charges of indecent assault, but were unable to reach a decision on the fourth 'face licking' charge.
The Crown Prosecution Service had a week to decide if it would seek a retrial on the remaining charge, but no further action was taken as it was known that Whatley licked the faces of many of his co-workers' as part of a joke amongst Ideal World staff.
Read more about this topic: Steve Whatley
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