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A British Council employee in Morocco was «sexually harassed» and «stalked» by her obsessed boss, according to a ruling by a British employment tribunal. The ruling, reported in August by British media, revealed that the senior official was «protected» by the organization, which blamed his actions on the victim.
The individual in question, Tony Reilly, was serving as the British Council’s country director for Morocco when the «harassment» occurred. The tribunal found that Reilly obsessively stalked his colleague, KJ, bombarding her with gifts, text messages declaring his love, and even sneaking into her home to leave flowers by her doorstep.
At one point, Reilly sent KJ a half-naked picture of himself and was seen loitering outside her house in Morocco, according to The Standard.
The events took place in 2020, when both Reilly and KJ, who served as the Teaching Center Cluster Lead for the Maghreb, remained in Morocco due to the critical nature of their roles during the strict COVID-19 lockdown.
Reilly began messaging KJ on WhatsApp during the lockdown, outside of normal working hours. KJ initially perceived the communication as «a friend looking out for another friend during a difficult situation».
However, Reilly’s behavior allegedly changed after KJ’s father passed away. He had helped her travel to the UK when her father became seriously ill in April 2020. Upon her return to Morocco, following her father’s death, KJ alleged that Reilly’s messages became «flirtatious».
«Normalizing stalking behaviors»
According to The Standard, after KJ complained about her boss’s obsessive behavior, an internal disciplinary grievance was launched. The disciplinary process concluded that Reilly was «responsible for two instances of unwanted physical contact» and that his actions amounted to harassment and stalking, the court has found.
The tribunal found that officials allegedly blamed Reilly's behavior on the victim. «They prioritized his wellbeing over hers and tried to romanticize his messages as those of a spurned lover trying to understand why things went wrong», the report stated.
KJ eventually quit her job due to the stress and is now set to receive a damages payout after winning a tribunal claim for unfair dismissal, harassment, and discrimination.
The East London Tribunal panel, led by Judge Stephen Shore, concluded that the British Council—which represents the UK abroad and receives government grants—had «failed to protect the victim, caused distress and harm with delays in handling her complaints, and prioritized Mr. Reilly’s welfare over hers».
Furthermore, the tribunal criticized the outcome of the disciplinary process, calling it «unfair» and an attempt to «normalize Mr. Reilly’s stalking behaviors».
KJ's lawyer, Joe Nicholls, welcomed the ruling, stating that the British Council investigation had been «seriously flawed». He added, «This ruling should send a clear signal that allegations of sexual harassment need to be taken seriously and thoroughly, objectively, and independently investigated, ensuring that the complainant is adequately supported».
On the other hand, a British Council spokesperson told The Standard: «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».
It is worth mentioning that Reilly left the British Council in Morocco in August 2022 and now works as a leadership consultant.
