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Hardwick sexual discrimination allegations dismissed Hardwick sexual discrimination allegations dismissed
(about 2 hours later)
The restaurant run by celebrity chef Stephen Terry has been cleared of allegations of sexual discrimination.The restaurant run by celebrity chef Stephen Terry has been cleared of allegations of sexual discrimination.
Chloe Maisey made 21 claims about The Hardwick, Abergavenny, which have been dismissed by an employment tribunal in Cardiff. Chloe Maisey made 21 claims about The Hardwick, Abergavenny, including having a sea bass and a mouse thrown at her.
Mr Terry and other members of staff had always maintained there was "banter" in such a "pressurised" environment. But Mr Terry and other staff said it was "banter" in such a "pressurised" environment.
He said the claims were "devastating" and Ms Maisey had never raised any of her issues with him. An employment tribunal in Cardiff dismissed Ms Maisey's case saying she "lied or wildly embellished facts to embolden her claims".
Ms Maisey, 19, of Merthyr Tydfil, spent just three months as a trainee pastry chef at The Hardwick last year and told the tribunal she was initially "delighted" to be working at the restaurant.Ms Maisey, 19, of Merthyr Tydfil, spent just three months as a trainee pastry chef at The Hardwick last year and told the tribunal she was initially "delighted" to be working at the restaurant.
But she said there were no female changing rooms and she was forced to change in front of men.But she said there were no female changing rooms and she was forced to change in front of men.
She claimed staff made comments about her body and one man threatened to slap her bottom.She claimed staff made comments about her body and one man threatened to slap her bottom.
Ms Maisey also alleged she was shut in a work freezer and burnt on the arm with a hot metal tray.Ms Maisey also alleged she was shut in a work freezer and burnt on the arm with a hot metal tray.
But sous chef Jamie O'Leary told the hearing allegations, including that he threw a sea bass and a mouse at her, had been "blown out of all proportion". But tribunal chairman Roger Harper said panel members were unconvinced by her story.
Restaurant owner Mr Terry said Ms Maisey never made any complaints about the way she said she was treated. "We find that on numerous occasions Chloe Maisey lied or wildly embellished facts to embolden her claims," he said.
He told the tribunal: "If she was so distressed about all these incidents then she could have told me about just one of them. "She left because she couldn't handle the long hours. Many of her claims were dishonest.
"But at no point ever did she tell me about any of these alleged incidents." "It is significant that she never complained to staff at the restaurant, her mother or father or her boyfriend.
Mr Terry said the first he heard of any alleged sexual discrimination was when Ms Maisey's mother rang. "It was only at the end of her employment that she raised any grievance with her family," he added.
He asked her to put the allegations in writing but she never did. Restaurant owner Mr Terry had told the tribunal Ms Maisey's claims were "devastating" she had never raised any of her issues with him.
Speaking after the hearing, Mr Terry he said: "We are very pleased and accept the findings. It is very unfortunate - we didn't plan on being here.
"We want to draw a line underneath it. It is has been very disruptive to my work life and family life," he said.
"I look to move on and forward."