South Yorkshire: Hairdresser who claims boss offered her £10,000 for sex faces wait on ruling

Maryam Mashayekhi, 34, told an employment tribunal how married Christopher Storey propositioned her while she was working at the Toni & Guy salon in the centre of Sheffield. The week-long tribunal, which ended yesterday, heard Mrs Mashayekhi allege that Mr Storey asked her how much she wanted for sex while on a trip to style a bride’s hair ahead of her wedding.

She said Mr Storey, 39, offered her £1,000 and increased the amount to £10,000 but she refused, saying she was married. Mrs Mashayekhi also told the hearing that her boss pretended to pay her money and pushed her head towards his groin while sitting in a car.

She said he laughed it all off as a joke.

The hearing also heard her allege that Mr Storey joked to a client that she was a prostitute in a previous job and asked about her sexual preferences in front of a colleague.

Representing Mrs Mashayekhi, her husband Manouchehr Royan told the panel she was subject to “racial and sexual harassment and bullying” during her six months at the salon.

Mrs Mashayekhi, who is also an artist, is claiming race and sex discrimination as well as constructive dismissal against Mr Storey and the Sheffield Toni & Guy franchise owners, George Plus One Ltd.

Mr Storey denied the allegations at the tribunal in Sheffield.

Yesterday stylist Joanne Wood told the hearing that there were no problems at the salon.

She said: “Everyone gets on with everybody, there’s no bad atmosphere, everybody loves going, it’s enjoyable to go to work.”

She added: “Nobody gets picked on, nobody gets bullied, there’s none of that.”

Employment judge David Sneath said he and his panel had considered giving a judgment yesterday but eventually decided to reserve the decision.

He said a judgment will be delivered within three months.

Speaking afterwards, Mrs Mashayekhi, who moved to the UK from Iran seven years ago, said: “I just hope for justice.”