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Sexual harassment victim awarded payout after "disgracefully lewd comments"

A women has been awarded £27,000 at an employment tribunal after suffering sexual harassment from her bosses.

She was employed by courier company J&M services, run by Mervyn Johnston and Joe McFall.

The tribunal found both men had subjected her to "disgracefully lewd comments" and that she was unfairly sacked when late back from taking her child to a doctor's appointment.

When trying to find new employment, her chances were weakened by what the tribunal called "a very negative and bad reference".

The woman was the only female employee among the nine people working at company when she started at the firm in October 2011, and she informed the tribunal that at first things went well and she enjoyed her work. However, within weeks Johnston and McFall had begun to make remarks to her about her figure.

Just before Christmas other male directors from within the courier franchise were due to visit the business.

The woman was told she would be expected to wear a mini-skirt and low-fronted top and be prepared to give the visitors "a good time".

On 9 January she had arranged for time off to take her child to the doctor but when she texted to say she would be back later than expected she received a reply "things were not working out" and the company would have to "let her go".

The tribunal found that the woman had suffered a "very serious level of harassment" that was aggravated by the fact that it had come from the company owners.

Neither Johnston nor McFall appeared at the tribunal, choosing to give only a written response in which they disputed and denied the allegations.