Petra Ecclestone’s gold dealer ex James Stunt, 39, insists he is ‘absolutely not guilty’ of racially abusing a police officer near his £3.9million Knightsbridge home
- Petra Ecclestone’s ex-husband James Stunt denied racially abusing black police
- Gold bullion dealer, 39, is accused of threatening Met officer in June last year
- Alleged incident occurred at his £3.9million Knightsbridge, London home
- Trial date set for July 2022 to allow for a previous hearing Stunt is involved in
F1 heiress Petra Ecclestone’s ex-husband James Stunt today ‘absolutely’ denied racially harassing a black Metropolitan Police officer and was told he will have to wait 17 months for his trial.
The gold bullion dealer, 39, is accused of threatening PC Richard Harper in or near his £3.9million home in well-heeled Knightsbridge, West London, on June 22 last year.
But his trial date has been set for July next year to allow for a previous hearing Stunt is involved in.
Stunt is due to appear in court in Leeds in April next year after being charged with money laundering and forgery following an investigation by West Yorkshire Police.
Dressed in a white shirt and blue V-neck jumper, he appeared at Southwark Crown Court via video-link and was sat at times with his chin resting on his arms, which were folded on a table.
He denied causing racially aggravated alarm or distress and a further offence of harassment, and when arraigned on the offence told the court: ‘Absolutely not guilty’.
F1 heiress Petra Ecclestone’s ex-husband James Stunt ‘absolutely’ denied racially harassing a black Metropolitan police officer and was told he will have to wait 17 months for his trial
Karim Khalil QC, defending, requested the court delay the two to three-day trial until a 12-week trial in April next year is completed in Leeds for an unrelated alleged money laundering charge.
Mr Khalil said: ‘We’re waiting for a more substantial matter to be heard first. We would want the more serious matters to be tried first. They’ll be well known to the court.
‘This is a bail case, there’s no difficulty in custody time limits. The Crown’s evidence is either recorded or noted. There’s no anxiety of any witness trying to recollect any material.’
The gold dealer was warned he must appear at the next court date or a warrant would be issued for his arrest. When asked if he understood by Judge Deborah Taylor, he replied: ‘I do, my lady.’
The businessman married Ms Ecclestone, daughter of F1 tycoon Bernie Ecclestone, in Italy in 2011. They had three children together but divorced in 2017
The gold bullion dealer, 39, is accused of threatening PC Richard Harper in or near his £3.9million home in well-heeled Knightsbridge, West London, on June 22 last year
Stunt, who was granted unconditional bail, was told the trial will take place in the week of July 25, 2022.
The businessman married Ms Ecclestone, daughter of F1 tycoon Bernie Ecclestone, in Italy in 2011. They had three children together – a daughter followed by twin boys – but divorced in 2017.
Stunt’s former bodyguard, Justinas Ivaskevicius, 34, was cleared of stealing a £515,000 diamond from the tycoon’s £10million Belgravia mansion after a trial.
But Ivaskevicius was jailed for 33 months in January after he was found with blank cheques belonging to Stunt.
Stunt once boasted of being worth £3billion and having 200 luxury cars but he was declared bankrupt in June 2019.