A Ryder Cup-winning golfer cried as he was cleared of sexually assaulting a woman on a Transatlantic flight

• Golfer Thorbjorn Olesen cried in court as he was cleared of sexually assaulting a woman on a flight.
• The Ryder Cup winner said that he had suffered an adverse reaction to sleeping pills.

Golfer Thorbjorn Olesen cried as he was cleared of sexually assaulting a woman on a British Airways flight in June 2019.

The Ryder Cup winner had been on trial at Aldersgate House Nightingale court in London facing charges of sexual assault, assault by beating, and being drunk on an aircraft, all of which he denied.

Over three days, jurors heard how the Dane wreaked havoc on the flight from Nashville, Texas to London, urinating on a seat and verbally abusing staff.

A female passenger also claimed Olesen had "grabbed" her breast.

The 31-year-old, who said he has no recollection of the flight, used the defence of automatism, meaning that his conduct was involuntary and he had no control over his actions, according to The Times of England.

He said that he had suffered an adverse reaction to taking prescription-only sleeping pills that were bought on a "dodgy website" by his partner Lauren Zafer. The court was told that the medication can cause side-effects including sleep-walking, memory loss, and lack of co-ordination.

Olesen had also been drinking alcohol before boarding the flight.

The jury in London deliberated for an hour before clearing him of all charges, according to The Times, with Olesen weeping as the verdict was read.

"I want to apologize wholeheartedly to everyone on board the flight who was affected by my behaviour," Olesen said, according to The Times.

"I do not remember anything after takeoff, but I am embarrassed and ashamed by the account of my actions that was outlined during the trial.

"My behaviour was completely out of character and nothing like this has ever happened to me before or since."

He went on to say, according to The Guardian, that he was now going to focus on his golf.

"I have learned from my mistake and will make sure I never put myself in a similar position again," he said.

"I now want to focus on my golf, free from distractions, and to repay the trust of everyone who has kept faith in me throughout this very difficult time."