Council worker loses claim after she was sacked for sexually harassing three male colleagues

A council finance manager was sacked for sexually harassing three men before making false accusations that she was the victim, an employment tribunal heard.

She was suspended from her job at Westminster City Council after two of the men, who were granted anonymity, complained about her behaviour.

The “obsessive” woman propositioned her boss, who had a girlfriend, and insisted that another married finance worker “should be my husband” and that they would “have the cutest babies”.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, sent the married man sexual innuendos and tried to kiss him as they took a walk, the hearing was told.

She “refused to take no for an answer”, falsely accused him of sexually assaulting her, then made unfounded allegations that he was a “predator” who was “following girls into the kitchen”.

She then claimed that she had been sexually harassed by them and tried to sue the council and two of the men she had targeted, but her “malicious and vexatious” claims were thrown out.

‘Jealous and unpleasant’

The employment tribunal in central London heard she had a “cyclical pattern of behaviour” and would harass them on and off, despite their attempts to distance themselves.

The woman was sacked for gross misconduct and at the tribunal, lost claims of unfair and wrongful dismissal, sexual harassment, victimisation and disability and religious discrimination.

Employment Judge Sarah Goodman said: “Her conduct towards (the first man) was more prolonged and more serious.

“She wanted a personal relationship and would not take no for an answer, and then became jealous and unpleasant.

“She was not just dismissed because was there a pattern of nuisance behaviour towards male colleagues she took a liking to, which could have been handled another way, she was dismissed for making serious allegations of sexually predatory behaviour, compounded by other vindictive and unnecessary acts.

“The council could have no confidence in her treating her colleagues professionally and with respect, and she had caused them serious harm and distress.”