The owner of Cowley Road’s Hi Lo Jamaican Eating House restaurant has appeared in court accused of sexually assaulting two women.
Sitting in the dock of courtroom four at Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday morning (May 31), Hugh ‘Andy’ Anderson, 74, of Cowley Road, pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault by touching.
Prosecutors allege he touched two different women, one of whom was said to have been sexually assaulted on April 23 last year and the second on May 1 last year.
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The women were named in court but cannot be identified for legal reasons. Prosecuting, Mike Hollis did not tell the judge of the location of the alleged assaults or the relationship between the defendant and complainants.
In an unfaltering voice, Anderson answered ‘not guilty’ when each count was put to him. The clerk repeated the plea after the first count, to which the defendant replied: “That’s right.”
The restauranteur spoke only to confirm his name and his pleas. Earlier, as the judge came into court, Anderson, who had difficulty walking and whose barrister assured Recorder John Hardy KC that he meant no disrespect, remained seated in the dock but removed his royal blue fedora hat.
Recorder Hardy granted the defendant bail and fixed the trial to begin on April 8 next year. The case is expected to last between three and four days.
Barrister Laura Blackband represented the defendant at Wednesday's hearing.
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