Former Gloucester City Councillor denies upskirting charge
Lee Hawthorne has pleaded not guilty, in relation to an incident in June 2019.
Last updated 29th Sep 2020
Former city councillor Lee Hawthorne has pleaded not guilty to an incident of upskirting in a Gloucester shop.
Hawthorne, 40 and of Filbert Close, Abbeydale, Gloucester, appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court this morning (September 10).
He was charged with an upskirting offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, accused with operating equipment beneath clothing of another without consent.
It relates to an alleged incident in Gloucester’s TK Maxx branch, in Northgate Street, on Thursday, June 27 last year.
He denies the charge.
During his court appearance Hawthorne, who resigned as a Gloucester city councillor in April, confirmed his name and address and elected a trial by judge and jury.
The trial will be held at Bristol Crown Court on Friday, October 9.
Hawthorne was granted unconditional bail.
He was originally supposed to appear before Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court last week, but it was adjourned until today at Bristol due to “logistical” reasons.