It’s not harassment to tell a junior colleague ‘you’re my b***h now’, tribunal rules

Uttering the statement, in a non-sexual context, does not amount to sexual harassment, the judge said (stock image) (Picture: Getty Images/Westend61) Telling a junior colleague that ‘you’re my b***h now’ does not constitute sexual harassment, according to the new judgment. Uttering the statement does not amount to sex harassment or discrimination under workplace equality laws if it is made when a more senior colleague needs to reinforce the ‘hierarchy’, the tribunal ruled. Employment Judge Melanie Sangster made the judgment at an Aberdeen Employment Tribunal after former Coast Radio employee Craig Milne tried to sue the now-defunct station. He claimed that radio station manager Gavin Harper subjected him to sexual harassment and discrimination when he made the comment ‘as a joke’. Judge Sangster threw out most of his claims, which included direct sex discrimination, harassment related to sex, victimisation, detriment as a result of making a protected disclosure and unfair dismissal. Regarding the ‘you’re my b***h’ comment, Judge Sangster said: ‘He made the comment to assert his authority over [Mr Milne], in circumstances where he felt [Mr Milne] had not recognised this in the past, not because of [Mr Milne’s] sex. ‘For these reasons, [Mr Milne’s] complaint of direct discrimination in respect of this does not therefore succeed and is dismissed. ‘In context, the comment was not conduct of a sexual nature. [Mr Harper] was asserting that [Mr Milne] was subordinate to him in the hierarchy. ‘There was no evidence before the tribunal which suggested, or from which it could be inferred, that the comment was of a sexual nature.’ Therefore, his complaint of sexual harassment does not ‘succeed and is dismissed’, she ruled. The dispute was triggered after Mr Milne joined Coast Radio in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, in May 2024 to assist Mr Harper in his role as station manager. It was agreed that he would work 20 hours a week for £12.50 per hour and would also receive £20 per advert. The station was run by WBC Media CIC, which is a community interest company. The employment judge threw out most of Craig Milne’s claims (stock image) (Picture: Getty Images) Mr Milne later submitted two invoices saying he worked significantly longer hours than contracted and there was a disagreement around money. The radio station could not afford the increased invoices, the tribunal heard. On August 21, 2024, Mr Milne was invited to a ‘relaxed and light-hearted’ meeting with the station directors and Mr Harper. At the end of the meeting the tribunal heard: ‘[Mr Harper] who felt that up to that point [Mr Milne] had not recognised/respected his position of station manager, laughed and stated “you’re my bitch now”,’ the tribunal heard. ‘Others in the room, laughed at this, taking it as a joke. ‘The meeting continued, then ended amicably. [Mr Milne] then did around 30 minutes of work and left the office.’ Two days later, a radio presenter thought they saw Mr Milne and Mr Harper arguing and mentioned it to a director. On August 26, Mr Milne asked Mr Harper about an advert that needed amendment. Mr Milne responded that he would not deal with Mr Harper and would speak to the directors instead before he blocked his number. The following day Mr Milne sent an email to the directors to claim he had experienced sexual harassment. ‘During my time within Coast Radio regular inappropriate comments from Mr Gavin Harper of a sexual nature were made towards myself,’ the tribunal heard. ‘This includes, of recent, Mr Gavin Harper on Wednesday August 21, 2024, at a meeting at Coast Radio where he stated to me “your my b***h now”.’ He demanded an investigation and to not have to see Mr Harper. An investigation was commenced but Mr Milne did not answer any further communications and the station stopped broadcasting in November 2025. Mr Milne later took his case to tribunal. Despite dismissing most of his claims, Judge Sangster ordered the company to pay Mr Milne £1,406, which was found to have been unlawfully deducted from his wages. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page. News Updates Stay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.