News

City lawyer “falls from grace” after humiliating attack on woman he branded an “Australian slut”

A married City lawyer’s career is in ruins after he was convicted of sexually assaulting a woman he branded an “Australian slut” at a posh rowing club Christmas party.

Former England international rower Alastair Main, 35, was spared jail today despite pouring beer over the woman’s head as he carried out the humiliating attack.

But the court heard he was sacked from his lucrative job with investment firm Schroders two days after he was convicted in connection with the incident following a trial last month.

Disgraced father-of-one Main must also sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years to complete his “fall from grace.”

He lifted up his victim’s skirt and slapped her bottom during the assault in the ladies’ toilets.

He pounced when the victim refused to give him a hug at The London Rowing Club’s Christmas bash on the banks of the Thames in Putney, south west London, on December 16th, 2015.

As the woman tried to leave the party after being being attacked by Main, he followed her outside and pushed her against a van and raised his hand before being pulled away by a friend.

Main, who was national rowing champion in 2003 and represented England at that year’s Home International Regatta, was convicted of sexual assault and racially aggravated common assault at a trial last month.

He was spared jail and instead handed a one-year community order and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work when he appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court for sentencing today.

Main will also be made to sign on the sex offenders’ register for five years, and was made subject to a five-year restraining order to prevent him from contacting the victim. He was also made to pay £1,000 in court costs and an £85 surcharge.

Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court heard he was sacked from his job at investment firm Schroders two days after he was convicted.

District Judge Barbara Barnes said: “I am of the view that a community order would be sufficient to reflect the gravity of these offences.

“I appreciate at this present time your employment status is uncertain, but if you were fortunate enough to find employment the unpaid work would not jeopardise that.”

But she did not order Main to pay any compensation to the victim.

Judge Barnes said: “I am of the view it would not be in the interests of justice.

“A monetary payment cannot recompense for behaviour such as this. It seems to me the victim would prefer to leave all this behind and move on.”

Jack Peat

Jack is a business and economics journalist and the founder of The London Economic (TLE). He has contributed articles to VICE, Huffington Post and Independent and is a published author. Jack read History at the University of Wales, Bangor and has a Masters in Journalism from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Published by