Alexey Ostapchuk, right, with his lawyer
(Picture: SUPPLIED )ââA Russian banker is accused of watching a woman as she used the toilets at a central London train station, a court heard.
Alexey Ostapchuk, 31, was allegedly caught peering into a cubicle in the ladies toilets at Cannon Street station on December 10 last year.
He appeared at Westminster magistrates’ court on Wednesday to deny a charge of observing a person doing a private act, contrary to the 2003 Sexual Offences Act.
“If it is possible, I would prefer crown court,” he said when asked where he would like his trial to take place. The court heard a woman accused Ostapchuk of “looking over the cubicle door and watching while she used the toilet”.
District Judge Michael Snow sent the case to Inner London crown court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on May 18. “He is a Russian national here on a work residence permit,” said defence solicitor Wajid Manzoor.
“He has a stable job in the UK — he is a banker.”
Judge Snow freed Ostapchuk on bail on conditions that he continues to live at his £850,000 City apartment and stays away from international travel hubs.
