Pizza girl's pounds 6,000 for sex assault

A TEENAGE girl who was sexually harassed by her manager was awarded pounds 6,000 compensation by an industrial tribunal yesterday.

The Big Mama's take-away pizza company was ordered to pay 17-year-old Lesley Jones pounds 1,000 for loss of wages and pounds 5,000 for hurt feelings, after the tribunal ruled she was the victim of sexual harassment.

The tribunal, in Leeds, was told that Edward Nathan, 34, groped Miss Jones, who was then 16, as she peeled vegetables at the Big Mama's branch he managed in Horsforth, West Yorkshire. He fondled her breasts, and tried to put his hand on the front of her tracksuit bottoms.

Mr Nathan, who lived above the shop, also constantly questioned Miss Jones, of Horsforth, about her sex life.

After the assault, Miss Jones left the shop, her personality changed and she became a virtual prisoner in her own home, the tribunal was told.

Police later questioned Mr Nathan about the assault.

Aurangzeb Iqbal, solicitor for Big Mama's, said that the company had suspended Mr Nathan, who subsequently left.