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| Alan Sugar alleges apprentice is 'suspicious and untrusting' | Alan Sugar alleges apprentice is 'suspicious and untrusting' |
| (4 months later) | |
| Stella English, a former winner of The Apprentice reality TV show, is attempting to blackmail millionaire businessman Alan Sugar, he claimedon Thursday. | Stella English, a former winner of The Apprentice reality TV show, is attempting to blackmail millionaire businessman Alan Sugar, he claimedon Thursday. |
| Lord Sugar is being sued for constructive dismissal by English, 34, who won series six of the BBC1 show in 2010. He claims he has no case to answer and that English is after his money. | Lord Sugar is being sued for constructive dismissal by English, 34, who won series six of the BBC1 show in 2010. He claims he has no case to answer and that English is after his money. |
| Giving evidence to the East London tribunal service, Sugar said the action taken by his former apprentice was akin to a slap in the face. | Giving evidence to the East London tribunal service, Sugar said the action taken by his former apprentice was akin to a slap in the face. |
| English of Whitstable, Kent was given a £100,000 role with Sugar's IT division Viglen as her prize but resigned in May 2011 and complained that while there she was an "overpaid lackey", something her former boss strongly denied. | English of Whitstable, Kent was given a £100,000 role with Sugar's IT division Viglen as her prize but resigned in May 2011 and complained that while there she was an "overpaid lackey", something her former boss strongly denied. |
| She said she felt pressurised into taking up a new position at Sugar's internet set-top box company YouView. However Sugar said he was trying to help her out as she had complained of being "desperate for money". | She said she felt pressurised into taking up a new position at Sugar's internet set-top box company YouView. However Sugar said he was trying to help her out as she had complained of being "desperate for money". |
| He told the tribunal: "I contend I am insulted and disappointed, I am being paid back and having to come here and humiliate myself in front of the national media, but I'm here because I have principles and I'm not just going to pay off people. When her instructing solicitor heard my name, it must have been 'Ding, ding, ding – jackpot'." | He told the tribunal: "I contend I am insulted and disappointed, I am being paid back and having to come here and humiliate myself in front of the national media, but I'm here because I have principles and I'm not just going to pay off people. When her instructing solicitor heard my name, it must have been 'Ding, ding, ding – jackpot'." |
| Sugar appeared to become agitated at several points, accusing Philippa Jackson, representing English at the tribunal, of "scraping the barrel" with her questioning. | Sugar appeared to become agitated at several points, accusing Philippa Jackson, representing English at the tribunal, of "scraping the barrel" with her questioning. |
| The man described on The Apprentice as being the nation's "most belligerent boss" admitted the exchange with Jackson had become heated. | The man described on The Apprentice as being the nation's "most belligerent boss" admitted the exchange with Jackson had become heated. |
| He told her: "I have lost my cool a little bit more today than I normally do. | He told her: "I have lost my cool a little bit more today than I normally do. |
| I get very angry when people bring derisory actions against me, I'm afraid to say."I'm here because I believe I have no case to answer and because I trust in the tribunal system and I'm here because I believe this is a classic abuse of the tribunal system." | I get very angry when people bring derisory actions against me, I'm afraid to say."I'm here because I believe I have no case to answer and because I trust in the tribunal system and I'm here because I believe this is a classic abuse of the tribunal system." |
| English had told the tribunal that during an unscheduled meeting on 28 September 2011, Sugar told her he would not be renewing her contract and that he told her he did not "give a shit". | English had told the tribunal that during an unscheduled meeting on 28 September 2011, Sugar told her he would not be renewing her contract and that he told her he did not "give a shit". |
| But rather than his comment being aimed at English, Sugar meant he was expressing his disregard at how the matter might play out in the media. | But rather than his comment being aimed at English, Sugar meant he was expressing his disregard at how the matter might play out in the media. |
| Sugar admitted it "would not have been good" for either English's credibility or that of the show if she had left before her contract ended. | Sugar admitted it "would not have been good" for either English's credibility or that of the show if she had left before her contract ended. |
| But he added: "My prime objective was to honour my commitments and to get her money". | But he added: "My prime objective was to honour my commitments and to get her money". |
| Sugar accused English of being a "serial liar" and said that with hindsight, he would have neither hired her nor offered her a second position when she initially resigned. | Sugar accused English of being a "serial liar" and said that with hindsight, he would have neither hired her nor offered her a second position when she initially resigned. |
| Before English accepted the YouView post, a press release had already been drafted announcing that she was leaving Viglen, the tribunal was told. | Before English accepted the YouView post, a press release had already been drafted announcing that she was leaving Viglen, the tribunal was told. |
| "The reality is, I didn't need to do anything," he told the hearing, while being cross-examined by Jackson. | "The reality is, I didn't need to do anything," he told the hearing, while being cross-examined by Jackson. |
| "In hindsight, and hindsight is a wonderful word, I should have said, 'Bonne chance, on your way', and put out the press release. | "In hindsight, and hindsight is a wonderful word, I should have said, 'Bonne chance, on your way', and put out the press release. |
| "But worrying about her welfare - that's what annoys me about this - worrying about her moaning that she's got no money and she's in debt ... that's why I took her to YouView, and it's come back and slapped me in the face." | "But worrying about her welfare - that's what annoys me about this - worrying about her moaning that she's got no money and she's in debt ... that's why I took her to YouView, and it's come back and slapped me in the face." |
| He said it was "nonsense" that his primary concern was the publicity that would come as a result of English leaving the job she won on the television contest. | He said it was "nonsense" that his primary concern was the publicity that would come as a result of English leaving the job she won on the television contest. |
| Sugar told the tribunal: "My idea of taking her to YouView was for her benefit, and how insulted I feel having to come here to defend a derisory claim when it was about her, her getting the balance of the contract and the money that she desperately needed." | Sugar told the tribunal: "My idea of taking her to YouView was for her benefit, and how insulted I feel having to come here to defend a derisory claim when it was about her, her getting the balance of the contract and the money that she desperately needed." |
| He described English as being "deluded" if she believed that he was scared of negative publicity and if she thought he would not come to the tribunal as a result. | He described English as being "deluded" if she believed that he was scared of negative publicity and if she thought he would not come to the tribunal as a result. |
| Sugar said: "She is a suspicious, untrusting person and one who believes she has always been done down and places blame with others. | Sugar said: "She is a suspicious, untrusting person and one who believes she has always been done down and places blame with others. |
| "I believe this claim, together with its publication in the media, is simply an attempt to extract money from me, something I will never agree to." | "I believe this claim, together with its publication in the media, is simply an attempt to extract money from me, something I will never agree to." |
| He added he had strong principles and had spoken in the House of Lords on "this new wave of claim culture". | He added he had strong principles and had spoken in the House of Lords on "this new wave of claim culture". |
| The entrepreneur stressed: "I have no intention to pay her any money unless told to do so by the law." | The entrepreneur stressed: "I have no intention to pay her any money unless told to do so by the law." |
| At no point during her employment did English make any complaints, Sugar told the tribunal, adding that his company did nothing other than "treat her well and honour its obligations". | At no point during her employment did English make any complaints, Sugar told the tribunal, adding that his company did nothing other than "treat her well and honour its obligations". |
| He dismissed English's allegation that she had been pressurised into taking the YouView job as "total garbage" and her claim that she was ostracised by colleagues at Viglen as "a figment of her imagination". | He dismissed English's allegation that she had been pressurised into taking the YouView job as "total garbage" and her claim that she was ostracised by colleagues at Viglen as "a figment of her imagination". |
| Sugar accused English of "writing headlines" for the newspapers by what she has alleged to the tribunal.There was no full-time job available at YouView and English had already made it clear she did not want to work at Viglen, Sugar said, adding that she could have stayed on to do contractual work. | Sugar accused English of "writing headlines" for the newspapers by what she has alleged to the tribunal.There was no full-time job available at YouView and English had already made it clear she did not want to work at Viglen, Sugar said, adding that she could have stayed on to do contractual work. |
| Jackson claimed English's job was "a sham" and "a PR construct". | Jackson claimed English's job was "a sham" and "a PR construct". |
| Sugar - who has now finished giving his evidence - told the tribunal that, other than English, the only other winner of The Apprentice to leave before the end of their 12-month contract was Series 2 winner Michelle Dewberry. | Sugar - who has now finished giving his evidence - told the tribunal that, other than English, the only other winner of The Apprentice to leave before the end of their 12-month contract was Series 2 winner Michelle Dewberry. |
| The hearing, listed to last for seven days, will resume at 9.30am on Friday. PA | The hearing, listed to last for seven days, will resume at 9.30am on Friday. PA |
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