Mother called ‘baby-farmer’ at Dragons’ Den star’s firm

A MOTHER of three was called a “baby-farmer” at a firm owned by a Dragons’ Den star and forced out of her job by a “Napoleon-like” boss, a tribunal heard.

Lucinda Hayman, a sales executive, won claims of sexual harassment and constructive dismissal against Pall-ex, a freight company owned by Hilary Devey, who starred on the BBC show.

An employment tribunal heard Miss Devey said Christopher Tancock, the firm’s director, had “Napoleon syndrome” and that if necessary she would sack him and three other senior staff to retain Miss Hayman.

Miss Hayman joined Pall-ex, which was founded by Ms Devey in 1996, as an account manager at its Leicester depot in May 2000.

A written ruling, the Leicester tribunal, led by Judge Saleem Ahmed, said: “The two of them got to know each other and became good friends after the claimant decided to join the company. At that time there were some 15 or so employees but it was growing rapidly. The claimant was then single and prepared to put in the hours.”

Miss Hayman resigned some years later but then rejoined the company in March 2007.

Her first child was born in August of the following year and she took further periods of maternity leave in 2010-11 and 2012-13.

After returning to work in 2013 she received an email from Mr Tancock that said “when you get a moment in between nappy changing…” and later that year had a meeting in which David Gannon, the finance director, said “nothing has happened since you’ve been busy being a baby farmer”.

Judge Ahmed said: “While Mr Gannon denies making the remark, we did not find his denial convincing.”

The tribunal upheld Miss Hayman’s claims that she was sexually discriminated against and harassed, in relation to a joke told in her presence and at her expense about getting lost driving to Milton Keynes.

The judge said it showed “a stereotypical attitude towards the claimant as a woman.”

A raft of other claims were either dismissed or ruled out of time.

Compensation will be considered at a separate hearing.