Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Dragon's Den star Douglas Richard cleared in child sex case

The reputation of his business had been shattered as a result of the case, he said

Paul Peachey
Crime Correspondent
Friday 29 January 2016 22:25 GMT
Douglas Richard told the trial that he had been seeking fantasy relationships
Douglas Richard told the trial that he had been seeking fantasy relationships

A former government adviser who appeared as a business guru on Dragons’ Den wept after he was cleared of child sex charges.

Douglas Richard, 57, accepted that he spanked and had sex with a 13-year-old whom he had met on a “sugar daddy” website, but said he believed her when she lied and said that she was aged 17.

The pair had shared intimate messages via the website Seeking Arrangement in which he had described himself as a “sugar daddy”, and the girl as a “sugar baby”. The girl had sent him naked photographs.

Mr Richard, who is married, told the Old Bailey during the trial that he had been seeking fantasy relationships involving dominance and submission but was now trying to address his addiction through therapy.

The reputation of his business – which had led to him being made an adviser to the Prime Minister – had been shattered as a result of the case, he said. “I feel terrible. I feel terrible for her and I feel terrible about myself. I feel terrible for my wife and children,” he told the jury.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in