Brian Lord OBE (pictured outside Gloucester Crown court), ex-deputy director for intelligence and cyber operations at GCHQ, had been accused by the woman of sexually assaulting her for a 2-3 minute period during the party game
A former GCHQ spybase chief who has been honoured by the Queen was fined and conditionally discharged today for assaulting a woman at a dinner party by putting his hand on her knee during a ‘truth and dare’ style game.
Brian Lord OBE, ex-deputy director for intelligence and cyber operations at GCHQ, had been accused by the woman of sexually assaulting her for a 2-3 minute period during the party game.
The 56 year old, who now works in cyber security in the private sector, was due to stand trial on that charge at Gloucester Crown court today having pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing.
But at the last minute the prosecution laid a second charge of common assault and Lord pleaded guilty to that.
He was conditionally discharged for a year, ordered to pay the woman £100 compensation, and also ordered to pay £200 costs.
Judge Michael Cullum formally declared him not guilty of sexual assault after the prosecution did not proceed with that charge.
Prosecutor Robert Duvall said that in November last year, Lord and his partner Natasha Marshall were guests at the dinner party hosted by a colleague in Churchdown. Another couple were also guests.
The victim had only met Lord a couple of times before the party and ‘nothing of an untoward nature had ever taken place between them before,’ said Mr Duvall.
‘The guests arrived separately and there were drinks and chat and socialising. The men were all sitting on one side of the glass topped table and the ladies on the other.
‘As things progressed, a decision was made by the host for the seating to be changed. This defendant remained where he was but two of the ladies sat either side of him. The complainant was on his right.
‘During some party games the defendant placed his hand on the lady’s knee. It was not momentary. It was there for a significant time and caused her embarassment and awkwardness.
‘She felt she was not in a position to deal with the situation by speaking to this defendant, expressing her concern, or leaving the table.
‘Eventually, the defendant’s partner left the table. It seems she may have seen his hand and the position it was in. She withdrew to the kitchen followed by the complainant. The two of them spoke together in the kitchen.
‘As a result, the defendant’s partner re-entered the sitting room and spoke to the defendant and there was an altercation, following which she left the premises.
Lord’s position at GCHQ (pictured, file photo), where he worked for 21 years and retired as Deputy Director for Intelligence and Cyber Operations in 2013, was not referred to in court. Internet searches show he has worked for Protection Group International (PGI) since 2013
‘The complainant was by that stage in tears and the defendant was asked to leave. He was apologetic and left without question.
‘He was emphatic that his actions, however unwise, were not sexual in nature. He has no previous convictions whatever.’
Rosemary Collins, defending, confirmed: ‘He has never been in trouble before. He is a family man. It is such a shame that it has come to this.’
She said three judges who have dealt with the case as it progressed through court had questioned whether it was in the public interest to proceed with it in view of ‘its minor nature.’
‘He accepts he put his hand on this lady’s knee for 2-3 minutes,’ she said. ‘This was during the course of party games. They were sexualised party games such as “Did you ever…?”, “Have you ever…?” that sort of thing.
‘He intended no disrespect to her at all. He accepts it was something that was stupid, done in drink. At one stage he had his hand on his partner’s knee as well. It was an action which was friendly.
‘There was an atmosphere of drinking. They had all been drinking. He thought he was getting on rather well with the complainant.
‘He admitted what he had done in interview (with the police) fully.
‘He doesn’t have any Legal Aid so this case has cost him a considerable amount of money. It has been a terrible strain on him and his family and for his work and so on.
‘I ask you (the judge) to say this was a stupid act. He admits it was stupid to behave like that. He regrets it deeply.
‘He is a man who doesn’t need anything other than for this to be marked by a conditional discharge. I can assure you he will never repeat this behaviour.
‘I would urge you to accept he has been punished enough by way of having to go through this over a period of some time.’
Judge Cullum told Lord: ‘Your behaviour was entirely out of character. It was, as you realised at the time, both unwise and inappropriate and it caused, and continues to cause, significant upset.
‘Your behaviour crossed the line to criminal behaviour, as a result of which you have lost your good name and your good character which, I know, you will have held dear.’
Lord’s position at GCHQ, where he worked for 21 years and retired as Deputy Director for Intelligence and Cyber Operations in 2013, was not referred to in court. Internet searches show he has worked for Protection Group International (PGI) since 2013.
He is described as a ‘leading thinker in the area of Cyber Warfare.’