Simon Checkley (pictured), the managing director of Private Finance, was accused of grabbing hold of the rail worker ‒ and subjecting him to homophobic abuse ‒ after missing the train home for his 55th birthday party.
Reported in the Evening Standard yesterday, the court was told that Checkley had shouted out “your service is b*******”. After being told he was being “hostile and rude”, he then grabbed the worker by the arm, before challenging him to a fight and using a homophobic slur.
Checkley was detained by police, at which point he admitted that he had been drinking, but argued that he had only touched the staff member’s arm rather than grabbing him, as well as denying making any offensive comments.
Checkley’s lawyer, Aisling Barnes, said that he was “frustrated and wanted to get to the train and admits he might have been abrupt”.
She added: “He is a law-abiding man who lost his temper. He will have to disclose this conviction because he works in the finance sector and was ashamed to miss the birthday party because he was in police custody.
“He is mortified and deeply sorry. He had been drinking and had little recollection of the incident until viewing the CCTV last week.”
Magistrate Colin Bateman-Jones ordered Checkley to pay a £500 fine, £350 in costs and court fees and £100 compensation to the victim after he pleaded guilty.
Private Finance was approached by Mortgage Solutions but declined to comment.
