'Sex pest' case told of lingerie

A WOMAN who claims she was sexually harassed by her former employer went shopping with him for lingerie and saucy cards, it was disclosed yesterday.

Carol Leather, of Reading, Berkshire, told an industrial tribunal in Leeds that she helped Ian Coates buy lingerie for his wife's birthday.

She also admitted taking his advice on buying a birthday card for a male friend. It said on the front: 'Do you want to be a red-hot lover?' Inside was a sachet of mustard and advice to rub it on a man's penis.

They also looked at a novelty birthday cake with the message: 'Older women make greater lovers.'

Miss Leather, 32, worked as a trainee patent agent with William Jones, a firm which helps protect copyright on logos and trademarks.

The tribunal has been told she was so upset about harassment from Dr Coates that she was transferred from the firm's headquarters, in Norwich, to an office in York. Six months later she resigned rather than return to head office. She is claiming unfair dismissal after a claim for sexual discrimination was ruled out of time.

The hearing was adjourned until August.