A relative of Queen Elizabeth II will be spending 10 months behind bars after sexually assaulting a 26-year-old woman at Scotland's Glamis Castle last year.
Simon Bowes-Lyon, the Earl of Strathmore, received his prison sentence Tuesday at the Dundee Sheriff Court, Fox News reported. He pleaded guilty last month, saying that he was "greatly ashamed of my actions which have caused such distress to a guest in my home," according to the outlet. "I did not think I was capable of behaving the way I did but have had to face up to it and take responsibility," he added.
Bowes-Lyon, who is a first cousin twice removed of the queen, was hosting an event at the Glamis Castle in February 2020 when the attack occurred. According to the U.K.'s Daily Record, the woman had gone to bed in one of the rooms when he knocked on the door and asked that she open it for him. Bowes-Lyon then reportedly pushed her onto the bed and began to pull at her nightgown while groping her.
When the woman tried to get away, he allegedly pushed her against the wall and continued the attack, which continued for 20 minutes before the woman was able to get Bowes-Lyon out of the room. He returned and tried to get back in but a guest from another part of the castle was able to intervene. The following morning, the woman left the castle to report the attack to the police.
Speaking outside court, Bowes-Lyon admitted he had drunk too much the night of the assault.
"I recognize alcohol is no excuse for my behavior," he said. "My apologies go, above all, to the woman concerned."
Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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