Sex case broker took part in bawdy banter, says boss
A City broker who claims she was sexually harassed by her boss had discussed sex toys at work and described her own car as a "pulling machine", it was alleged today.
Rosemarie Corscadden, 51, alleges she was the victim of a campaign of sexual harassment by Jerry Lees who, she claims, repeatedly propositioned her for sex.
Today Mr Lees, head of sales at Cheuvreux, a European equity broker within French bank Crédit Agricole, claimed that Ms Corscadden, had made "flirtatious" comments to him and sent him "joke emails with sexual content".
Ms Corscadden, of Sawbridgeworth in Hertfordshire, is seeking £5million over the claims.
She said Mr Lees overlooked her for promotion and bonuses after she refused to sleep with him.
Describing himself as a "well-known personality in the industry", Mr Lees, 54, told a central London employment tribunal: "I accept that I and my team engage in friendly banter with one another. In the past, this has included sending emails with some sexual content.
"This was light-hearted humour and the atmosphere on the desk is generally civil and professional. I do not accept this banter crossed the line in terms of creating a sexually harassing environment."
He added: "Not only has Ros never once complained about this banter, she actively participated in it. There are instances where she forwarded me joke emails with sexual content.
"There is also an example of her sending an email to a client in which she talks about using her car as 'an A-grade (pulling machine), particularly if there are two blondes in it.'"
He added: "Ros has participated in discussions in the workplace about sexual matters including keeping vibrators in the fridge."
Ms Corscadden claimed Mr Lees told a journalist that "sometimes he felt as though he was 'running a team of prostitutes'." Mr Lees said it would have been "complete madness" to talk in that way to a journalist.
But he acknowledged that he may have referred to brokers being "whores of the industry" - a "widely used euphemism in our industry" and was not referring to women.
Mr Lees told the tribunal that he had previously worked with Ms Corscadden at another firm, had known her since 1996 and that she had been friends with his ex-wife and also his current partner.
Ms Corscadden claimed Mr Lees propositioned her during a business trip to Amsterdam in January 2005, promising to help with her business if they "had great sex". Mr Lees denied this and said that Ms Corscadden had in fact propositioned him.
He said Ms Corscadden had confided to him that a relationship she was in had ended. He said: "I recall Ros went on to say that, now her relationship had come to an end, this 'left a slot' that needed to be filled.
"I was surprised by this comment as it was made in a flirtatious way, implying she and I could begin a sexual relationship. I was not interested."
The hearing continues.
