Award-winning Downton Abbey producer, 39, who is accused of sexual assault gets case postponed as he battles cancer
- Chris Croucher, 39, is accused of molesting the woman in Westminster last year
- The hearing has been adjourned for the third time today to November 17
- Assistant director is charged with sexual assault on a woman and assault
An award-winning Downton Abbey producer accused of sexual assault had his latest court appearance adjourned for a third time today after he was diagnosed with cancer.
Film and television writer Chris Croucher, 39, is accused of molesting the woman in Westminster, central London, last December.
He is charged with sexual assault on a woman and assault.
The screenwriter and assistant director, who has worked with Hollywood A-listers Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman, failed to attend court due to ill health.
Producer Chris Croucher, 39, has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Westminster
Previous hearings have been put off after magistrates were told he was diagnosed with cancer and is receiving treatment.
Suleman Hussain, prosecuting, said: ‘The adjournment was proposed by the defendant.
‘An application for adjournment has already been granted.
‘The defendant is not subject to bail at this moment.
Croucher received two Emmy nominations and won the NTA award for best drama twice for his work on series five and six of Downton Abbey
‘My understanding the reason why his solicitor is not here because the application to adjourn had already been granted.’
The hearing was adjourned to November 17 at Westminster Magistrates Court.
Croucher, of Guildford, Surrey, was the assistant director of eight episodes of Downton Abbey, as well as other TV shows and films including Whitechapel, 28 Weeks Later and The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy.
The film and television writer has also worked on The Other Boleyn Girl with Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman
During his time on the ITV drama, the series received two Emmy nominations and won the National Television Award for best drama twice.
He graduated from Surrey Institute Of Art And Design in 2003 with a BA in Film & TV Production and was a producer on TV shows The Halcyon, The Innocents and White Lines.
He was also an associate director on Wimbledon, with Paul Bethany and Kirsten Dunst.