Tailor Sues Prada For Unfair Dismissal

Loved by the rich and the famous, yesterday the glossy fashion house Prada suffered a scratch to its image when a former employee accused the company of fostering a culture of fear and bullying.

John Forsbrey, formerly the head tailor of the Italian fashion house's Bond Street store, was close to tears as he spoke of the "regime of fear" that he claimed came to dominate the boutique where he worked for six years.

Mr Forsbrey, 54, said that such was the deliberate humiliation inflicted on staff that they were regularly reduced to tears. As well as being shouted and sworn at, Mr. Forsbrey claimed that he had boxes deliberately tipped on to him from the top of the stairwell by other member of staff, and the door pushed open when he was in the lavatory.

Mr. Forsbrey, who earned £23,000 a year and dressed many of Prada's well-known clients such as Nicole Kidman and Kylie Minogue, is claiming unfair dismissal after having left the store last December.

Miss Kanth, who is in her 30s, denies having sacked Mr. Forsbrey, claiming that the tailor had resigned. She stated: "I found John difficult sometimes to communicate with. I felt I had to treat him with kitten gloves. I have a great respect for John. I saw him as a father figure."

The hearing, due to finish tomorrow, continues