Former Hartlepool MP Mike Hill told woman 'I crave your body' , tribunal hears

The woman, known only as Ms A, claims former Hartlepool MP Mike Hill conducted a campaign of sexual harassment and bullying against her over 16 months.

In a witness statement submitted to the Central London Employment Tribunal, she said Mr Hill made her feel “scared, extremely confused, violated and powerless”.

She added: “The situation he put me in kept me paralysed and helpless like a caged animal.”

She also said: “I felt Mr Hill had a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ personality in that time, he would be friendly with me, but at others, particularly after I rejected his advances, he would turn and act like he hated me.

“It got to the stage where I couldn’t cope with it any more and it was making me ill.”

Ms A said Mr Hill’s advances began with text messages, including the one about craving her body, but progressed to groping her and rubbing himself against her.

The claimant said the incident left her “crying and shaking,” adding: “I was very distressed and confused and felt physically sick.”

She said she received no apology although she told him she felt “very threatened” by his actions and that he must not do it again.

Mr Hill was suspended from the Labour Party in September 2019 over the allegations before he was reinstated ahead of the December 2019 General Election.

He resigned from his seat in March this year and was replaced last week by Conservative Jill Mortimer.

The tribunal, which is due to last a week-and-a-half, continues.

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