Stefan Glaenzer, a partner in London VC firm Passion Capital has been spared jail after pleading guilty to, and being convicted of, sexual assault on the London underground during the Olympics period. As we reported in November, the former chairman of Last.fm admitted sexually assaulting an American tourist on a packed Central Line train by thrusting his groin into her back, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard. His defence was that he was under the influence of cannabis.
District Judge Michael Snow gave Glaenzer an eight-week sentence suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay his victim £1,000 in compensation as well as £85 in court costs. Glaenzer will now have to go on the sex offenders’ register for seven years and take part in a sexual behaviour rehabilitation programme, with an 18-month ban on using the Tube. He was previously fined £265 for possessing cannabis.
Judge Snow said: ‘Her memory of her visit has been tarnished. It is to this country’s shame that you brought another country’s citizen to that frame of mind. She’s extremely angry by what happened to her and I’m sure that in addition, she is disgusted and feels violated. Women on the Underground are easy prey for men like you.’
Glaenzer told the court he had been under the influence of cannabis. Defending, Sallie Bennett-Jenkins QC said her client had led an ‘exemplary life’ and had never been in trouble with the police before.
Glaenzer was chairman of music streaming website Last.fm, founded the White Bear Yard tech hub in Clerkenwell and the $60 million early stage Passion Capital Fund. Glaenzer spent 15 years as a DJ before he co-founded online auction website Ricardo.de.
Although no comment has been forthcoming from Passion Capital on the case, we understand that Glaenzer will remain in place at the fund while fulfilling the terms of his sentence.