Furious outburst led to phone being smashed

In a complaint that has become all too familiar, an accusation was made by a senior executive that the businessman behaved in an aggressive and intimidating manner.

The executive is understood to have complained about an incident where Sir Philip smashed his mobile phone after reprimanding him for not keeping him sufficiently informed about his work.

“What have you got this for if you don’t call me?” the businessman allegedly shouted, before smashing the device.

The incident was widely known about within the company and it is understood that shortly afterwards, the employee left his role. It is understood that the employee was also aware of sexual harassment allegations and is said to have witnessed some of the alleged incidents.

When The Telegraph put the allegations to Sir Philip, the businessman said that the executive was paid “one month’s salary” when he left and had recently asked the organisation for a reference to help him secure another job.

When The Telegraph first put allegations to Sir Philip and his company Arcadia last summer, many people said that Sir Philip had allegedly threatened to throw them out of windows or off balconies. Several said he had threatened to kill them during angry outbursts and some claimed that the businessman had “slapped them around the face” or “prodded” their bodies. Since Sir Philip was named as the individual at the centre of the scandal, The Telegraph has spoken to dozens of other people who have alleged they were subjected to verbal abuse, bullying, intimidation or witnessed similar incidents.

Some spoke of being “frightened” and feeling so intimidated they physically shook before meetings.

Lawyers representing Sir Philip also said that he was a “passionate businessman, who can at times be over-exuberant and hot-headed”. They said he can be “perceived at times as aggressive with senior and trusted staff ”. They added: “It is further denied that any of Sir Philip’s conduct towards employees amounted to any type of crime, or anything that would amount to gross misconduct, or a serious risk to health and safety.”