A senior official at the British Council in Morocco has been found guilty of sexually harassing and stalking a colleague; the institution has been criticized for mishandling the case and victim blaming, a tribunal has ruled.
Tony Reilly OBE, who served as the British Council’s Country Director in Morocco, relentlessly pursued a female colleague, bombarding her with gifts, sending text messages professing his love, and even sneaking into her home to leave flowers, according to “The Standard” news outlet.
The tribunal found that the British Council had “prioritized Reilly’s welfare” over the victim’s, who was given the title KJ during the trial.
The defendant’s actions included sending a half-naked photo of himself, loitering outside the victim’s home, and suggesting in a message that he had “Obsessive Love Disorder.”
An internal investigation concluded that Reilly was responsible for harassment, stalking, and unwanted physical contact.
In addition, the tribunal found that officials attempted to romanticize his actions as those of a “spurned lover” rather than addressing the seriousness of the harassment.
The court case, led by Judge Stephen Shore at the East London Tribunal, found that the British Council, which represents the UK internationally and receives government funding, failed to protect KJ and caused her further distress by mishandling her complaints.
KJ, who is significantly younger than Reilly, ultimately resigned from her position at the British Council in disgust over the grievance process.
Since then she has won her tribunal claim for unfair dismissal, harassment, and discrimination, and is expected to receive a damages payout.
The hearing revealed that Reilly’s pursuit of KJ continued between October 2020 and April 2021, despite her clear rejection of his advances.
At one point, he expressed his desire for physical affection and sent suggestive messages, including one incriminating message in which he apologized for showing up uninvited at a bar where KJ was socializing with friends.
Reilly’s behavior escalated to stalking, with KJ recounting incidents where he sent her unwanted gifts, such as chocolates, an expensive vase, and spa treatment vouchers.
In one particularly unsettling incident, KJ discovered flowers inside her garage, despite not knowing how Reilly had gained access.
The tribunal criticized the disciplinary process as “unfair” and condemned the attempts to “normalize Reilly’s stalking behaviors.”
Reilly, who admitted in a message that his actions were “tantamount to harassment,” did not participate in the tribunal process.
He left the British Council in August 2022 and currently works as a leadership consultant.
Joe Nicholls, a partner at the law firm Stephens Scown, which represented KJ, praised the tribunal’s ruling, stating that it should serve as a “clear signal” that allegations of sexual harassment must be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly, with proper support for the complainant.
In response to the ruling, a British Council spokesperson stated; “As an employer, we aim to create a safe, healthy, and fair working environment for all colleagues and remain committed to thoroughly investigating any complaints about discrimination or harassment.”
A hearing is scheduled for December or early next year to determine the level of damages and compensation owed to KJ.