Legal quagmire ends for falsely accused man

A British businessman who was cleared of sexual assault after a false allegation and a year-long legal battle, has said he wants to know why the case was ever allowed to proceed to trial by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Simon Correia (48) was arrested and charged following an alleged incident at the Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel in London in February 2024.

Correia had attended a black-tie awards ceremony with his wife, Clare, before going to the hotel bar.

Sitting at a table, Correia had lightly tapped a waiter on the back to avoid a collision, as the waiter was holding a tray of drinks.

The brief touch, captured by CCTV footage, was intended as a polite gesture to alert the waiter of his presence.

Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, Correia said: “I put my phone down and then said, ‘Cheers mate’, while I tapped him on the back and then sat straight down in my chair behind him. That was it. It was innocent and was just a warning of, ‘I’m behind you, I’m just letting you know’.”

Two officers took a statement from the waiter, who claimed Mr Correia had groped him and used a finger to penetrate him.

A female police officer’s bodycam video, seen by the Mail on Sunday, reveals she then watched the incident on the hotel’s CCTV. 

The footage captures the policewoman saying, “That’s not what he’s just described” – referring to the waiter’s allegations.

Despite this, she arrested Correia and took him to Brixton police station, where he was locked in a cell and fifteen hours later, charged with sexual assault.

During the trial in February 2025 at Inner London Crown Court, the case was dismissed after the judge reviewed the footage.

The judge said the evidence "wholly contradicted" the accuser's account.

'Shortest ever Crown Court trial’

Correia’s barrister Charlotte Godber said it was her ‘shortest ever Crown Court trial’ at just one hour and 56 minutes.

CCTV footage from multiple angles shows that that Correia, 48, momentarily placed his hand on the back of the man – who was holding a tray of drinks – to warn him not to step backwards.

Correia was cleared of all charges.

Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, Correia described the toll the false accusation had taken on him and his family.

"At some points I thought I was going to take my life," he said.

The year-long legal battle cost Mr Correia £10,000 in fees and devastated his family.

Correia and his wife, Clare, say they have received no apology from either the Metropolitan Police or the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

They are calling for accountability for the false allegations and for the accuser to face legal consequences.

The Metropolitan Police said in a statement that they are required to investigate all allegations of crime, and the case was investigated accordingly.

The CPS stated that the decision to proceed with the trial was based on a judge's initial review of the evidence, but they respected the court's decision to dismiss the case.

Distress

The couple is now seeking an explanation from the authorities for why the case was allowed to go to trial and for an apology for the distress caused.

A CPS spokesman said: “In April 2024, a judge who had reviewed the CCTV footage of the incident decided that there was enough evidence for this case to be put before a jury to decide.

“On hearing the complainant’s evidence during the trial in February 2025, a different judge invited the jury to dismiss the case and we respect the court’s decision.

“We recognise the toll the criminal process can take on both defendants and complainants, and we have written to Mr Correia to explain our decision-making in this case.”

Mr Correia’s business partner and stepfather, Richard Johnson, 77, described the case as a “waste of public money and time” which “failed the entire criminal justice system”.

'Evil spell'

His accuser, a Muslim man who has legal anonymity as the alleged victim of a sex crime, has faced no repercussions as yet for making a false accusation.

“The worst part is, he’s still out there and he’s not had any punishment for lying to the police and then lying in court,” Mr Correia said to the Mail on Sunday.

“I just want to warn other people about how easily something like this can happen. If it can happen to me it can happen to anyone,” he said.

“It was like this evil spell had been cast over us,” he said.