Thorbjorn Olesen Accused Of Grabbing A Woman's Breast And Urinating In Aisle During Flight

The Dane's court case has begun in London, where members of the cabin crew made statements on his alleged behaviour on a British Airways flight in July 2019

Thorbjorn Olesen holds his finish after hitting an iron shot
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Thorbjorn Olesen "grabbed" a woman's breast and "urinated" in the aisle during a British Airways flight in 2019, a court has heard as his trial began at London's Aldersgate House Nightingale Court.

Olsen's alleged behaviour is said to have occurred on the way back to London on 29th July 2019 following the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational.

The five-time European Tour winner and 2018 Ryder Cup player has denied sexually assaulting a woman, being drunk on an aircraft, and assault by beating of a second woman.

Olesen is said to have no recollection of what happened on board the flight due to taking sleeping pills and drinking various alcoholic drinks.

The woman Olesen is charged with sexually assaulting read a witness statement to the court where she described what she alleges happened on board the flight.. "He grabbed my hand and kissed it," she said. "He would not let go. He nuzzled his head into the nape of my neck. I thought he clearly did not know what he was doing.

"I was very wary of his behaviour as he had been aggressive towards crew members. He had his right hand around my back. He then grabbed my breast and moved his hand over my right breast. I felt shocked. It had overstepped the mark."

One member of the cabin crew said Olesen "appeared highly intoxicated and totally spaced out." Another said she had "never come across such bad behaviour on board a flight" in her 27 years of service.

"I was aware there was another passenger in the cabin drinking pink champagne and I saw Mr Olesen drinking from their glass," she told the court. "My attention was drawn to Mr Olesen and his travelling companion. It appeared they were trying to have some form of party."

She also described how she attempted to help Olesen back from the toilet where she alleges the Dane pushed her. "He pushed me with his right hand on my right shoulder, saying: 'It's all about you isn't it? Just go away.' He had assaulted me."

"While carrying out my service, I could hear Mr Olesen shouting," she said. "About four hours into the flight I was made aware that a passenger had pressed the call bell to inform the attendant that Mr Olesen had got up and urinated over the male, his seat and the aisle."

The 31-year-old was also said to have sworn at the staff members and to have been "staggering" around the aircraft. It was also revealed that the aircraft's captain was considering diverting the flight if the situation escalated. He said he "saw a trail of liquid going from first class", and organised special cleaning of the plane upon arrival in London.

Ian Poulter was on the flight back with Olesen, with Poulter telling the police "he looked a little worse for wear and I just assumed he had had too much to drink." Poulter himself apparently took sleeping pills but did not give any to Olesen, who he described to the police as "a hard-working individual who is dedicated to his profession".

A female cabin crew member had "noticed a small group of people gathered around seat 2E and they had brightly coloured pills," the court was told. She said: "I heard someone say 'oh I'll have one of those' but I do not know who it was."

Olesen previously said in a police interview that "he could remember getting on the plane and having some pills". He admitted to having "five or six drinks" before boarding the flight, but denied being drunk and said he had taken up to four sleeping pills at the start of the flight.

The trial at London's Aldersgate House Nightingale Court continues.

Update: "I Was Just Embarrassed And Felt Horrible" - Thorbjorn Olesen Addresses Court

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV