DAY THREE

A RADIO station managing director has denied asking staff to recruit blonde women with big breasts.

John Clayton also rejected a claim he touched the leg of the station's commercial director, Dawn Carney, during a company night out.

Miss Carney, 37, of Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, is claiming unfair dismissal and sexual harassment against Mr Clayton and Star's parent company, UK RD Group.

At the tribunal in Newcastle today (Wednesday), Mr Clayton denied making various sexist comments about women.

In response to questions by Victoria Heasman, acting for the claimant, that Mr Clayton told Miss Carney he wanted to employ women with blonde hair and big boobs like her, Mr Clayton said: "That's not the sort of language I would use in the office environment."

It is claimed that Mr Clayton instructed staff to hire a promotional team of "no males - just big boobed women".

But the respondent said such evidence was wrong.

He added: "I did not say that comment. If that kind of comment was made it would be outrageous, absolutely."

The hearing heard that station staff went for a meal at the Muse restaurant in Yarm where it was alleged Mr Clayton touched Miss Carney's leg inappropriately while they were sat at the bar.

Mr Clayton denied the incident had occurred and rejected claims he had drunk too much.

"I had very little to drink and I have the bill to prove that," he added.

It is claimed Miss Carney confronted Mr Clayton about his behaviour on March 19 last year.

A week later Mr Clayton held crunch talks with UKRD Group chief executive William Rodgers about the critical state of Star's finances.

Miss Carney alleges that Mr Clayton used this opportunity as an excuse to dismiss her when the real reason was her raising concerns over his behaviour.

Mr Clayton rejected this claim, saying Miss Carney never challenged him and that she was dismissed because of her sales performance.

The hearing heard from Sarah Barry, managing director of Star sister station, Harrogate-based Stray FM.

She described Mr Clayton as "very unassuming", adding: "He's quiet, he's pretty shy, and he's almost a little guarded. I was very, very shocked by the allegations because it does not sit with my experience.

"It's just not John. It sounds like it has been written about someone else." 

The tribunal continues.

The hearing continues.

DAY TWO

SEXISM was an "everyday occurrence" at a North-East radio station, claims a former employee who complained to Ofcom after ex-colleagues recorded an advert which allegedly joked about her breasts.

Karen Riley branded the culture at Darlington-based Star Radio as "outrageous", saying the station operated in an "unprofessional, sexist, degrading and humiliating way".

Miss Riley gave evidence today (Tuesday, January 3) at an industrial tribunal brought by another former Star employee, Dawn Carney, who is claiming unfair dismissal and sexual harassment against her then managing director John Clayton and Star's parent company, UK RD Group.

The allegations are strenuously denied and described as "opportunistic".

After sales executive Miss Riley left the station in 2013 to join rival TFM, former presenter Robin Banks recorded and broadcast an advert which it is claimed referred to Miss Riley as a "hot chick with nice tatas".

The advert went on to make another innuendo that a female Star employee slept around and also included the line "we can do it the easy way or we can do it dog style".

In her witness statement, Miss Riley said she complained to Ofcom who branded the advert "cruel and childish" - although the regulator did not take formal action against the station.

She added: "UKRD Group Ltd prides itself on being a top company to work for but, in my experience, bullying and everyday sexism are prevalent."

Another form Star employee, Peter Neesham, said in his witness statement how he recalled Mr Clayton tell staff during a meeting that he wanted an all-female promotional team with "big tits/boobs and blonde hair".

He added: "I cannot directly recall whether he used the term 'tits' or 'boobs' but, either way, these words should not have been used in the context of a professional recruitment meeting."

Richard Kell, a third former employee, also providing evidence for the claimant's case, claimed Mr Clayton would make jokes about Miss Carney's "cheap perfume" and "tacky scarves".

He said the managing director's conversation could be inappropriate and on one occasion when discussing previous jobs in the radio industry, he mentioned having oral sex with listeners.

Earlier Miss Carney, of Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, broke down in tears while telling the tribunal how her hair fell out through stress because of the case.

The claimant told the panel she was not taking legal action just because she wanted compensation.

Miss Carney was asked about her motivation for the legal action while being crossed-examined by Edward Legard, representing the respondents.

Fighting back tears, she said: "This is absolutely not about money whatsoever.

"My life has completely been affected for the last six months. I have lost my hair. I have been through a stressful time.

"It's because of how I was treated."

Miss Carney, 37, earlier told the hearing she was told by her boss, Mr Clayton, he wanted all new recruits to be like her - “to be blonde, have big boobs and blue eyes”.

The hearing continues.