A “sexual predator” boss forced his way into a co-worker’s hotel room and put his hand up her skirt, a misconduct hearing heard last week.
Tom Starkey, 56, is alleged to have waged a 10 year campaign of sexual harassment against four women he worked with in Luston, near Leominster, including admin worker Victoria Preece, it was claimed.
He is said to have tricked her into sleeping in the same hotel room as him, and displaying inappropriate sexual behaviour at work.
The harassment culminated in the assault after a Christmas party in 2002, it was alleged. Mrs Preece, 40, left the boozy bash with a headache, but was followed to her room by Starkey, director of children’s home provider Clifford House, of Luston, near Leominster, she told a General Social Care Council hearing in London on Friday.
She said: “He pushed me up against the wardrobe and started kissing me. He grabbed my breasts, put his hand up my skirt and ripped my tights.”
A female colleague – also an alleged victim of Starkey – later checked on Mrs Preece, but she told the panel she was too scared to tell anyone, including her husband, what had happened because Starkey had warned she would lose her job if she reported any of his alleged harassment.
Mrs Preece said that she was targeted by Starkey within weeks of him joining the private firm in 1995.
The next year he showed Mrs Preece he was sexually aroused in his office, saying he was thinking about her. Mrs Preece said Starkey did this twice more in early 1996, and also tried to kiss her.
Mrs Preece claimed he threatened to fire her if she told of the alleged harassment.
Mrs Preece said: “He asked me to go out for a meal several times – once or twice a day. I became really browbeaten and agreed to go. I hoped that would be the end of it.”
She told her husband she was going to stay with a friend, then travelled to Stratford-upon-Avon, meeting Starkey along the way, who drove her to the town where they spent the afternoon looking around before going to a Thai restaurant, the panel heard.
Starkey then drove to the Four Seasons Hotel. Mrs Preece went to bed and Starkey remained on a chair, but she did not get any sleep. A few months later the pair travelled to a conference in York and booked into a hotel where Starkey reserved one room.
Again she slept in the bed and he on a chair. The two did not attend the conference, but visited York where he bought her a dress and jacket from Marks and Spencer.
It is also alleged Starkey tricked Mrs Preece to two other hotels, and wooed her with tickets to a Kenny Rogers concert.
Starkey claims he was having a consensual affair with Mrs Preece, although both were married. He claims the trips were planned romantic trysts.
His lawyer, Carol Davis, told Mrs Preece, who gave evidence from behind a screen: “You acted consistently in a way you would behave to someone you were friendly and in a relationship with.”
The hearing continues.
