Boss offered to take female receptionist to Ann Summers to 'kit her out', tribunal told; Sexual harassment hearing told of list of complaints against employer.(News)

Byline: Tim Lewis

A COMPANY director accused of sexually harassing a young receptionist told her "it's your fault for wearing tight trousers", an employment tribunal heard yesterday.

Chartered surveyor Andrew Ferrier is alleged to have made the remark after she told him off for smacking her on the bottom.

He is also accused of showing Lizzy Bibby, from Lisvane, Cardiff, pornographic pictures, grabbing her waist and saying he would take her to lingerie shop Ann Summers to "kit her out".

Ms Bibby worked for Mr Ferrier at Ferrier Hart Thomas chartered surveyors in Cardiff from March 2008 to April 2009 and claims she was "treated as a sex object" by the director.

But Mr Ferrier described the allegations as "incomprehensible" and said the pair had enjoyed a pleasant working relationship.

He strongly denied all the claims of sexual harassment put to him by barrister Rhydian Reeves, on behalf of Ms Bibby, saying they were pure fantasy.

Under cross-examination from Mr Ferrier's solicitor, Nigel Daniel, at the tribunal in Cardiff, Ms Bibby said the harassment had got so bad she was forced to quit her job.

She said: "The first incident happened not long after I started working there. I was at my desk in the office and Mr Ferrier said he was going to take me to Ann Summers to 'kit me out'.

"I felt humiliated and embarrassed by what he had said.

"On another occasion I was looking in the filing cabinet and he smacked me on the bottom as he walked past me. I told him not to do that and he replied, 'It's your fault for wearing tight trousers'.

"Andrew Ferrier would often pinch my cheeks, so I would try and face away from him when I saw him coming. He once put his hands on my waist and his behaviour left me constantly on edge.

"He would also make comments about my weight, saying I must be anorexic or bulimic."

Mr Ferrier is also alleged to have asked Ms Bibby if she discussed what she likes in bed with her boyfriend. Ms Bibby said in the summer of 2008 Mr Ferrier showed her two pornographic pictures on her computer including one of a naked transsexual.

She added: "I was being treated as a sex object and I found it very hard to get through the days. I was deeply upset by what went on, I felt violated."

Mr Ferrier said there had been an element of banter in the office of Ferrier Hart Thomas, which has since ceased trading, but there was never any sexual element to it.

He said: "I categorically deny all of the allegations, which are pure fantasy on behalf of Ms Bibby.

"They are malicious allegations with absolutely no substantiation.

"At no point did I ever grab her waist, grab her cheek or smack her on the bottom. It is not the sort of thing I would do.

"The sexual harassment allegation is incomprehensible." Ms Bibby, who was 26 when she left the company, was offered the job by one of the other company directors, Kevin Thomas, whom she already knew.

She was paid pounds 9 an hour and worked three days a week in the company's offices in St Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff.

Mr Ferrier said: "We had a very good working relationship. We used to have a joke and a laugh with everyone else in the office and with each other.

"Her mother came into the office one day and we were introduced to each other. Lizzy said how much she enjoyed working there.

"She also liked to look after my pet dog and had asked if she could look after him over the Christmas period in 2008 when I was on holiday, something I refused.

"I never smacked her on the bottom, I never asked her what she likes in bed and I did not show her images on my computer. I emphatically deny all the allegations."

The employment tribunal also heard from employee Sandra Parker, who acted as office manager at Ferrier Hart Thomas and is still employed by two of its former directors.

She described the banter in the office as "nothing malicious" but said she had spoken to Kevin Thomas about pornographic images being shown in the office. Mrs Parker confirmed she had seen Mr Ferrier put his hands on Ms Bibby's waist and she also heard comments he made about Ms Bibby's weight.

Asked by the tribunal chairman, Barry Clark, if she believed Ms Bibby was telling the truth, Mrs Parker replied simply "yes".

The case continues.

CAPTION(S):

COMPLAINT: Lizzy Bibby ACCUSATIONS: Andrew Ferrier leaving the employment tribunal yesterday

Boss offered to take female receptionist to Ann Summers to 'kit her out', tribunal told; Sexual harassment hearing told of list of complaints against employer.(News)

Byline: Tim Lewis

A COMPANY director accused of sexually harassing a young receptionist told her "it's your fault for wearing tight trousers", an employment tribunal heard yesterday.

Chartered surveyor Andrew Ferrier is alleged to have made the remark after she told him off for smacking her on the bottom.

He is also accused of showing Lizzy Bibby, from Lisvane, Cardiff, pornographic pictures, grabbing her waist and saying he would take her to lingerie shop Ann Summers to "kit her out".

Ms Bibby worked for Mr Ferrier at Ferrier Hart Thomas chartered surveyors in Cardiff from March 2008 to April 2009 and claims she was "treated as a sex object" by the director.

But Mr Ferrier described the allegations as "incomprehensible" and said the pair had enjoyed a pleasant working relationship.

He strongly denied all the claims of sexual harassment put to him by barrister Rhydian Reeves, on behalf of Ms Bibby, saying they were pure fantasy.

Under cross-examination from Mr Ferrier's solicitor, Nigel Daniel, at the tribunal in Cardiff, Ms Bibby said the harassment had got so bad she was forced to quit her job.

She said: "The first incident happened not long after I started working there. I was at my desk in the office and Mr Ferrier said he was going to take me to Ann Summers to 'kit me out'.

"I felt humiliated and embarrassed by what he had said.

"On another occasion I was looking in the filing cabinet and he smacked me on the bottom as he walked past me. I told him not to do that and he replied, 'It's your fault for wearing tight trousers'.

"Andrew Ferrier would often pinch my cheeks, so I would try and face away from him when I saw him coming. He once put his hands on my waist and his behaviour left me constantly on edge.

"He would also make comments about my weight, saying I must be anorexic or bulimic."

Mr Ferrier is also alleged to have asked Ms Bibby if she discussed what she likes in bed with her boyfriend. Ms Bibby said in the summer of 2008 Mr Ferrier showed her two pornographic pictures on her computer including one of a naked transsexual.

She added: "I was being treated as a sex object and I found it very hard to get through the days. I was deeply upset by what went on, I felt violated."

Mr Ferrier said there had been an element of banter in the office of Ferrier Hart Thomas, which has since ceased trading, but there was never any sexual element to it.

He said: "I categorically deny all of the allegations, which are pure fantasy on behalf of Ms Bibby.

"They are malicious allegations with absolutely no substantiation.

"At no point did I ever grab her waist, grab her cheek or smack her on the bottom. It is not the sort of thing I would do.

"The sexual harassment allegation is incomprehensible." Ms Bibby, who was 26 when she left the company, was offered the job by one of the other company directors, Kevin Thomas, whom she already knew.

She was paid pounds 9 an hour and worked three days a week in the company's offices in St Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff.

Mr Ferrier said: "We had a very good working relationship. We used to have a joke and a laugh with everyone else in the office and with each other.

"Her mother came into the office one day and we were introduced to each other. Lizzy said how much she enjoyed working there.

"She also liked to look after my pet dog and had asked if she could look after him over the Christmas period in 2008 when I was on holiday, something I refused.

"I never smacked her on the bottom, I never asked her what she likes in bed and I did not show her images on my computer. I emphatically deny all the allegations."

The employment tribunal also heard from employee Sandra Parker, who acted as office manager at Ferrier Hart Thomas and is still employed by two of its former directors.

She described the banter in the office as "nothing malicious" but said she had spoken to Kevin Thomas about pornographic images being shown in the office. Mrs Parker confirmed she had seen Mr Ferrier put his hands on Ms Bibby's waist and she also heard comments he made about Ms Bibby's weight.

Asked by the tribunal chairman, Barry Clark, if she believed Ms Bibby was telling the truth, Mrs Parker replied simply "yes".

The case continues.

CAPTION(S):

COMPLAINT: Lizzy Bibby ACCUSATIONS: Andrew Ferrier leaving the employment tribunal yesterday