Former GB tennis player turned psychologist, 44, who appears on BBC and Sky to discuss sports stars is cleared of harassing a lawyer over WhatsApp

  • Dr Amanda Owens, 44, has been cleared of sending Amanda Lothian messages
  • Dr Owens claims both she and Ms Lothian were the victims of a sinister scam
  • Former tennis player has appeared on news and worked with teams across sport

Dr Amanda Owens pictured leaving court today, where she was cleared of harassment

Dr Amanda Owens pictured leaving court today, where she was cleared of harassment

A major sport psychologist and TV personality was cleared of harassing a lawyer with WhatsApp messages today but told she may still be handed a restraining order.

Dr Amanda Owens, 44, allegedly continued sending Amanda Lothian messages after signing a police harassment warning.

But the former tennis star claims both she and Ms Lothian fell victim to a sinister scam, run from Malaysia, and says she faces bankruptcy after spending £64,000 on the case.

Dr Owens, a former Great Britain tennis player, runs sport and business psychology consultancy firms Believe and Total Performance Consulting.

She was facing trial for harassing Ms Lothian, between 18 August and November 11 last year but a police officer in the case told Owens the matter would be dropped and dealt with by a restraining order.

Prosecutor Leanne James said: 'The officer in the case wrote to Dr Owens and quite unequivocally told her the case would be dealt with by way of a non-conviction restraining order.

'It was District Judge Green who pointed out it doesn't work like that. The court needs to be satisfied.

'I reviewed the case a number of weeks ago and thought it was quite wrong to proceed with the prosecution on that basis. The complainant is also supportive of that course of action.'

The prosecutor offered no evidence against Owens on the harassment charge and District Judge Karen Hammond returned a verdict of not guilty today.

Dr Amanda Owens has been cleared of harassing a lawyer with messages over WhatsApp

Dr Amanda Owens has been cleared of harassing a lawyer with messages over WhatsApp

But evidence could still be heard to support the application for a restraining order against Dr Owens.

The prosecution allege Dr Owens sent money to Miss Lothian's bank account after PC Ross Kennedy sent out the letter, which counts as further contact.

Ms James said: 'The crux of this evidence now is that after PC Kennedy informs her that this was the way the case would be dealt with, there has been further contact from Dr Owens in the form of money put into her bank account.'

Dr Owens told Judge Hammond the case had had a negative impact on her career, and she was upset with it being reported in the media. 

She added: 'I'm a famous sports psychologist. My family and I have had to go through a lot.'

Judge Hammond replied: 'That's not uncommon, not just for people in the public eye or people with professional registrations - there are many people that are charged who appear in the newspapers.

'These are criminal acts you have been charged with. I'm afraid it's an unhappy consequence but it is not directly relevant.'

The trial has been re-listed on four separate occasions, the court heard.

Evidence could still be heard to support the application for a restraining order against Dr Owens

Evidence could still be heard to support the application for a restraining order against Dr Owens

The TV regular has appeared on BBC and Sky news to discuss Andy Murray, Zinedine Zidane and Luis Suarez

The TV regular has appeared on BBC and Sky news to discuss Andy Murray, Zinedine Zidane and Luis Suarez

Dr Owens did not appear at one of the hearings because she was ill, and failed to appear to another, resulting in the issue of an arrest warrant in August.

The TV regular, who has appeared on BBC and Sky news to discuss Andy Murray, Zinedine Zidane and Luis Suarez, has worked with teams and individual stars across sport.

Her website lists work with GB Olympic and world-class athletes in swimming and athletics, as well as Southampton FC, the English and Welsh Cricket Board, Surrey and Essex county cricket clubs and the Lawn Tennis Association.

A fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, she has been on the British Olympic Association Psychology Advisory Panel and holds 'the highest qualification within the field of sport psychology'. 

Dr Owens was the Stella Artois sport psychologist for three years at the Queen's Club, where she was Vice Captain for the Ladies First Team and club doubles champion.

Dr Owens has worked with top sporting stars and is now a partner at business consultants Synatus

Dr Owens has worked with top sporting stars and is now a partner at business consultants Synatus

She has also worked with ATP professional tennis players, professional rugby players, GB cyclists, GB rowers, international tri-athletes, professional golfers, professional footballers and GB skiers.

Dr Owens is currently a partner at business consultants Synatus, a senior executive/performance coach at leadership training firm InsideOut.

Ms Lothian is registered with the Scottish-based Faculty of Advocates and is a director at Mayfields Legal Training.

Judge Hammond said: 'It would be wholly unfair to proceed if Dr Owens does not have legal representation. The hearing will be fixed for the week of the 12 February.'

Dr Owens, from Peckham, was cleared of harassment without violence.

She will now appear at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court on 12 February when a judge will decide if she should be handed a restraining order.

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