She slapped my bottom three times! Male John Lewis worker sues for sex discrimination

A SHOP assistant is claiming sex discrimination after a 68-year-old woman colleague allegedly slapped his bottom three times while working at the flagship John Lewis department store.

Konstantinos Kalomoiris, 40, says Bianca Revrenna tapped his bottom in the locker room and twice on the shop floor of the Oxford Street shop.

Furniture department worker Mr Kalomoiris, who says he quit his job as a result, told an employment tribunal that when he told her to stop, she replied: "I do that to all the boys."

Mr Kalomoiris, who had worked at the store since 2006, complained to his manager after the third incident last April. He says he made a formal grievance against Ms Revrenna, but brought his claim to the London Central employment tribunal after colleagues laughed at him and said he was "too sensitive".

Giving evidence today the retail assistant, who is representing himself at the hearing, said Ms Revrenna first slapped his bottom when they were in the staff locker room in October 2009.

He said he told her not to do it again, but although there was no apology he decided not to take the matter any further.

The tribunal heard Ms Revrenna struck again in December 2009 in the store's Christmas shop. Mr Kalomoiris added: "Every time she did it she would pause for a couple of seconds like she was savouring it."

After the third alleged incident on the shop floor in April last year, he complained to his superiors.

"My manager said I should be delighted that a colleague liked me enough to slap my bum. He said if a woman slapped his bottom, he would not be offended at all," he said.

Lawyers for John Lewis said Ms Revrenna had an "unblemished" record after working in the store for 40 years. She claims to have only ever touched Mr Kalomoiris's lower back in reassurance after a customer complained about him. The tribunal also heard Ms Revrenna was stressed at the time of the alleged touchings because of family illness.

Mr Kalomoiris said: "I often get stressed, but I don't go around slapping people's bottoms."

An internal investigation ruled Ms Revrenna had not deliberately upset him.

The tribunal continues.