An executive, 35, at tech firm City kept his job after groping a young co-worker’s butt

A multi-million pound executive at a City tech company groped a colleague after a drunk team-bonding session on a golf course – but was still allowed to keep his job.

Business development manager Michael Swain, 35, had been drinking heavily with his colleagues at a free bar at Swingers’ premises in central London.

He and employees of the company, whose name cannot be released for legal reasons, continued drinking at a nearby pub, where he launched his attack.

Swain came up behind the woman, who was in her early 20s, put his hand between her legs and felt her bum, Inner London Crown Court heard yesterday.

But despite being watched by colleagues and reported to human resources by the victim, he was allowed to keep his job after apologizing at a disciplinary hearing. The case heard that he was considered an “overachiever” who “brought huge sums of money to the company.”

Executive Michael Swain, 35, sexually assaulted his colleague after a mini-golf event in London

Swain – described as a “high achiever” who brought in money for the company – was allowed to keep his job

Meanwhile, Swain, from Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, fought the court case for four years.

But on Tuesday – after two hours of damning evidence – he changed his plea to guilty on a charge of sexual assault at the City Pub.

Prosecutor Fer Chinner said his victim, who also cannot be identified, saw Swain touch her.

The lawyer added: “She felt someone grab her bum, come from below and his hand was between her legs.

“She was shocked and said, ‘He just grabbed my butt.’ She was angry and was seen crying and went to the ladies to calm down.

Swain had been drinking heavily with colleagues at a free bar at Swingers in central London

Swain got behind the woman, who was in her early 20s, put his hand between her legs and felt her buttocks, Inner London Crown Court (pictured) heard yesterday

When she reported Swain to her supervisors the following Monday, he remained with the company after apologizing during the disciplinary process.

Ms Chinner added: “Swain was known within the company as a top performer who generated large revenues.

“They had quarterly team building days and after an 11 o’clock presentation, they had lunch and then went to Swingers to play mini golf.

“There was a free bar there that was sponsored by the company and apparently people took advantage of that and drank quite a bit.”

The company even had a beer tap in its office and enjoyed celebratory “Friday Shouts” drinking sessions congratulating employees on their achievements during the week.

Swain later told police he attended a charity event on the eve of the attack, followed by a trip to the casino where he won £6,000, bought everyone drinks and slept just two hours that night.

‘They were all drunk. They were all drinking,” Ms Chinner explained.

“This defendant asked the other woman, ‘May I touch her inappropriately?'” referring to the applicant and then told her, ‘She says I must not touch you inappropriately’.

“The complainant attributed this to drunkenness and carried on and felt none of it.

“Then he said to her, ‘I’m going to take some cocaine,’ and offered her some, but she refused.”

At around 5:30 p.m., a group of 15 went to the “Slug & Lettuce” and continued drinking.

Ms Chinner said: “Swain was drunker than the others and a colleague saw him grabbing another woman’s bum and when she moved away he apologized and withdrew.”

Half an hour later, the applicant was chatting with her colleague Thomas Brook when she felt Swain grope her from behind, the court heard.

“He got more and more drunk as the day went on,” Mr Brook told the hearing. “I could see him step back and swipe his hand away from her butt.

“Initially there was a shock factor.”

The trial revealed that Swain was known as an “overachiever” who “brought huge amounts of money into the company.”

Mr Brook agreed. ‘It is known within the company who are the members of the team who are developing quickly and who have achieved great sales.’

Another colleague confronted Swain, saying, “You just attacked her,” and the defendant replied, “Sorry. I screwed it up,” the jury was told.

The lawyer added: “When she came back from Ladies Swain she apologized and complained to Human Resources and during the disciplinary proceedings this defendant wrote her a letter of apology.

“He wrote that he could hardly remember the incident and was disappointed in himself.

“He was allowed to stay and the complainant felt very uncomfortable because Swain appeared not to honor his apology and she handed in her resignation.”

Another colleague, David Igbinovia, told the jury: “I saw him with his hand. It definitely touched the back, the butt.

“She was embarrassed, absolutely shocked and so was I. I said, “Michael, what the hell are you doing?” We’re a family here. You just attacked her.

“She went to the toilet and was in tears at that point and he said, ‘I’m sorry. I’ve had enough”.

“She was quite apprehensive about reporting this as he is so high up in the company.”

Questioned by police two weeks later, Swain denied ever offering the young woman cocaine. He also said he was still drunk from the night before when he started drinking again.

“He accepted that he had touched her bum through drunken frolics, and it wasn’t a sexual thing,” Ms Chinner said.

After Swain – who is no longer with the company – changed his guilty plea, Judge Jane Rowley released him on bail until May 25, announcing: “I will consider all options, including incarceration.

“Maybe there are other options. We need to see why he behaved this way because there is nothing to suggest he has done anything like this in the past.

“The complainant has waited months, years to testify on the initial plea of ​​not guilty and I would welcome a testimony on the victim’s impact.”

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk