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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Lord Sugar 'thinks Apprentice winner wants to damage his reputation' | Lord Sugar 'thinks Apprentice winner wants to damage his reputation' |
| (4 months later) | |
| Lord Sugar feels "wronged" by a former Apprentice winner suing him for constructive dismissal and believes she is trying to damage his reputation, an employment tribunal has heard. | Lord Sugar feels "wronged" by a former Apprentice winner suing him for constructive dismissal and believes she is trying to damage his reputation, an employment tribunal has heard. |
| Stella English, 34, from Whitstable, Kent, claims she was treated as an "overpaid lackey" after being handed a £100,000 contract for winning series six of the BBC1 show in 2010. | Stella English, 34, from Whitstable, Kent, claims she was treated as an "overpaid lackey" after being handed a £100,000 contract for winning series six of the BBC1 show in 2010. |
| Sugar, however, told the hearing at the East London Tribunal Centre he had no case to answer and that English was effectively blackmailing him. | Sugar, however, told the hearing at the East London Tribunal Centre he had no case to answer and that English was effectively blackmailing him. |
| Giving legal submissions on Tuesday, Sugar's representative Seamus Sweeney said: "The claimant has, in the eyes of Lord Sugar, deliberately courted the media with a view of damaging his reputation." | Giving legal submissions on Tuesday, Sugar's representative Seamus Sweeney said: "The claimant has, in the eyes of Lord Sugar, deliberately courted the media with a view of damaging his reputation." |
| He told how English had "sold her story" to the press several times and accused her of being a "headline-grabber", deliberately sensationalising aspects of her evidence. | He told how English had "sold her story" to the press several times and accused her of being a "headline-grabber", deliberately sensationalising aspects of her evidence. |
| Referring to Monday's sentencing of former Lib Dem cabinet minister Chris Huhne, Sweeney said Lord Justice Sweeney – who is no relation to him – described how Vicky Pryce used the media as a weapon. | Referring to Monday's sentencing of former Lib Dem cabinet minister Chris Huhne, Sweeney said Lord Justice Sweeney – who is no relation to him – described how Vicky Pryce used the media as a weapon. |
| He told the tribunal the same was true of English, adding: "Using the media, in this case, was a weapon of choice … It was a first weapon of choice. | He told the tribunal the same was true of English, adding: "Using the media, in this case, was a weapon of choice … It was a first weapon of choice. |
| "On the contrary, Lord Sugar has maintained his position, his dignity, until he comes here. | "On the contrary, Lord Sugar has maintained his position, his dignity, until he comes here. |
| "He can be forgiven in these circumstances for reacting passionately in his cross-examination because he feels wronged." | "He can be forgiven in these circumstances for reacting passionately in his cross-examination because he feels wronged." |
| Sugar, who gave evidence to the hearing last week, had admitted losing his cool when questioned about what he described as "derisory actions". | Sugar, who gave evidence to the hearing last week, had admitted losing his cool when questioned about what he described as "derisory actions". |
| Sweeney dismissed claims English was intimidated or scared by the peer and said they had a good relationship. | Sweeney dismissed claims English was intimidated or scared by the peer and said they had a good relationship. |
| "She sensationalises it and portrays him as always being angry in the meetings, and aggressive," said Sweeney. "It's theatre." | "She sensationalises it and portrays him as always being angry in the meetings, and aggressive," said Sweeney. "It's theatre." |
| He added: "She had been through 12 episodes of The Apprentice and knew what Lord Sugar was like." | He added: "She had been through 12 episodes of The Apprentice and knew what Lord Sugar was like." |
| English was initially given a job in Lord Sugar's IT division Viglen. | English was initially given a job in Lord Sugar's IT division Viglen. |
| The peer has rejected English's claim that the Viglen chief executive, Bordan Tkachuk, when asked for his verdict of her a few months after she started working, replied: "Nice girl, don't do a lot." | The peer has rejected English's claim that the Viglen chief executive, Bordan Tkachuk, when asked for his verdict of her a few months after she started working, replied: "Nice girl, don't do a lot." |
| Sweeney said: "It is difficult to see how it could have been said that she didn't do a lot when no one seemed to be of that view. The claimant was liked." | Sweeney said: "It is difficult to see how it could have been said that she didn't do a lot when no one seemed to be of that view. The claimant was liked." |
| English resigned from Viglen in May 2011 and said she then felt pressurised into taking up a new position at Sugar's internet set-top box company YouView. | English resigned from Viglen in May 2011 and said she then felt pressurised into taking up a new position at Sugar's internet set-top box company YouView. |
| However, Sugar said he was trying to help her out by offering her a new role, as she had complained of being "desperate for money". | However, Sugar said he was trying to help her out by offering her a new role, as she had complained of being "desperate for money". |
| During a meeting in September 2011, English said Sugar told her that her contract was not being renewed and that he had met his obligations to her. | During a meeting in September 2011, English said Sugar told her that her contract was not being renewed and that he had met his obligations to her. |
| However, Sugar told the hearing there was no full-time position available at YouView and that it had been explained that contractual work might be possible instead. | However, Sugar told the hearing there was no full-time position available at YouView and that it had been explained that contractual work might be possible instead. |
| Sweeney denied English's job was "a PR construct". | Sweeney denied English's job was "a PR construct". |
| "It wasn't a sham," he said. "It was a real job, with real money. | "It wasn't a sham," he said. "It was a real job, with real money. |
| "It might not have been her dream job, that does not mean it was a sham." | "It might not have been her dream job, that does not mean it was a sham." |
| He added that she was doing "important work", noting she had given a breakfast TV interview before taking up her post after winning The Apprentice and said she was "excited" about it. | He added that she was doing "important work", noting she had given a breakfast TV interview before taking up her post after winning The Apprentice and said she was "excited" about it. |
| "How she can then complain it was not entrepreneurial is a mystery as she knew what she was going to be doing," added Sweeney. | "How she can then complain it was not entrepreneurial is a mystery as she knew what she was going to be doing," added Sweeney. |
| Philippa Jackson, representing English, said Sugar was "angry" at being sued, having publicly denounced "claim culture" during the tribunal. | Philippa Jackson, representing English, said Sugar was "angry" at being sued, having publicly denounced "claim culture" during the tribunal. |
| "He's not going to be seen to be backing down," she said. | "He's not going to be seen to be backing down," she said. |
| "He doesn't think much of employees running off and complaining – they should get on with it. | "He doesn't think much of employees running off and complaining – they should get on with it. |
| "What's more, he doesn't like it when people cross him. That became evident in the course of his evidence. | "What's more, he doesn't like it when people cross him. That became evident in the course of his evidence. |
| "He doesn't even attempt to countenance he might have committed a breach and done something wrong." | "He doesn't even attempt to countenance he might have committed a breach and done something wrong." |
| She said as English was Sugar's apprentice, she had the right to expect "a degree of mentoring" during her time working for him – something she alleges was lacking. | She said as English was Sugar's apprentice, she had the right to expect "a degree of mentoring" during her time working for him – something she alleges was lacking. |
| For there to be "a relationship of trust and confidence" between an employer and employee, both sides must consider the job to be "a genuine occupation", added Jackson. | For there to be "a relationship of trust and confidence" between an employer and employee, both sides must consider the job to be "a genuine occupation", added Jackson. |
| Addressing the fact that English did not make any complaints about the way she claims to have been treated before resigning, Jackson said: "She was clearly in a difficult situation. She was overpaid. She's come into an established company in very unusual circumstances. | Addressing the fact that English did not make any complaints about the way she claims to have been treated before resigning, Jackson said: "She was clearly in a difficult situation. She was overpaid. She's come into an established company in very unusual circumstances. |
| "All that is relevant in understanding why she did not raise any issues." | "All that is relevant in understanding why she did not raise any issues." |
| The hearing has finished and the tribunal will make its decision within a month. | The hearing has finished and the tribunal will make its decision within a month. |
| If there is to be a remedy hearing, depending on the verdict, it will take place on 22 April . | If there is to be a remedy hearing, depending on the verdict, it will take place on 22 April . |
| Sugar did not comment as he left the hearing in his Rolls- Royce, which has a personalised number plate. | Sugar did not comment as he left the hearing in his Rolls- Royce, which has a personalised number plate. |
| English, who now works for an IT firm, was told to "have a nice day" by one photographer as she left with Jackson and replied with a smile: "Thanks, I will now." | English, who now works for an IT firm, was told to "have a nice day" by one photographer as she left with Jackson and replied with a smile: "Thanks, I will now." |
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