A TRIBUNAL failed to support a woman who claimed she put up with lewd comments from her boss about her enhanced breasts.
Sabrina Pace told an employment tribunal that David Ford, her boss at DHN (Driver Hire Newport) Management Limited, made several sexual comments during her five months with the firm.
They included a suggestion she be photographed for a drivers' hire calendar. He called her claims "blatant lies".
The tribunal dismissed her claim as she had not provided the firm with details of her grievance in line with approved procedure, so it could not adjudicate.
It will reconvene, however, to continue hearing a sexual discrimination claim made by Miss Pace, 26, of Llwyn Deri Close, Bassaleg, Newport, against DHN, relating to her redundancy last September. She believes it was due to her becoming pregnant.
Miss Pace, whose breast implant surgery in 2004 was known in the DHN office, said she found Mr Ford's alleged comments "tiresome and irritating" but had not complained.
However, after her pregnancy became known early in September, "the sexual comments took a turn".
On one occasion, during a briefing, she said Mr Ford stopped mid-sentence, saying "you will have to close your cardigan, Sabrina, unless you want me to talk to your breasts".
On another, he allegedly leaned over a banister as she descended the stairs, and said, "where is a low-cut top when you need one, I am in the perfect position".
Miss Pace was made redundant three weeks after her pregnancy became known, a period during which she felt Mr Ford tried to provoke and upset her. She said sales had improved since she started work.
Mr Ford accused her of lying. "I fiercely object to the sexual harassment claims, which are blatantly untrue," he said. "An awful lot of accusations have been made and I have never had anything like it. This alleged approach does not sit comfortably at all."
He said redundancy had been made against a background of poor company performance, compared to the previous summer. He had "agonised on a personal and business level", but had acted in the interests of the business.
He claimed DHN's track record regarding pregnancy had been flawless, and cited several examples and testimonies from staff.
Tribunal chairman Phillip Davies said sexual harassment allegations might be referred to again, regarding the redundancy issue. Proceeding
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