Sir Geoffrey Boycott's ex-girlfriend condemns ‘disgusting’ knighthood

Geoffrey Boycott was convicted in 1998 of beating his then girlfriend Margaret Moore in a French Riviera hotel
AFP/Getty Images
Harriet Brewis @HattieBrewis14 September 2019

The ex-girlfriend of Sir Geoffrey Boycott has said he should “hand his knighthood back” in her first interview since it was announced.

Margaret Moore, 67, called Theresa May’s decision to honour the retired England cricketer "disgusting", saying she would “never forget” the night he hit her.

Sir Geoffrey, 78, was convicted in France in 1998 of beating computer consultant Mrs Moore in a Riviera hotel.

She suffered bruising to her face and blackened eyes after being hit up to 20 times at the Hotel du Cap in Antibes in October 1996.

Ms Moore said she was hit up to 20 times in the 1996 assault

Speaking to The Sun, Ms Moore said: “I will never forget that night. It was horrible. What sort of man does that and is then made a knight?

"He should hand it back."

Domestic abuse campaigners have attacked former Prime Minister Mrs May's decision to knight the cricketing legend in her resignation honours list.

The co-acting chief executive of Women's Aid, Adina Claire, said earlier this week that the award "sends a dangerous message" that "domestic abuse is not taken seriously as a crime".

But when asked about her comments Sir Geoffrey told the BBC: "I don't care a toss about her.

"Twenty-five years ago. You can take your political nature and do whatever you want with it. I couldn't give a toss."

Ms Moore's comments come after Dominique Haumant, the now-retired French judge who convicted Sir Geoffrey, told the Guardian: "I remember this case very well and I remember the row about it even after 20 years.

"I saw all the photos, the evidence, the statements and if I didn't think he was guilty I wouldn't have convicted him."

Sir Geoffrey was fined £5,000 and given a three-month suspended prison sentence over the assault.

Despite the conviction, he has always denied assaulting Ms Moore, accusing her of putting a "stain on my name" and maintaining her injuries were sustained in an accidental fall.

But at his trial, public prosecutor Jean-Yves Duval rejected that claim, saying the injuries were "absolutely incompatible" with an accident.

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