Hayes told the tribunal that throughout her time with the company, Atkins made occasional comments about her being Irish and that while she “knew it was wrong, I tried to accept it as humour”.
However, she said his behaviour “ramped up” after Atkins’ friend Marcus Smith became involved in the business.
“If we had a disagreement, he would shout ‘potato’ in a strong Irish accent over and over again,” said Hayes, who was 55 at the time.
“He would shout ‘potato’ as soon as he walked in the office without me having even spoken to him.”
She said Atkins’ behaviour “totally eroded my self-respect and my self-esteem”.
“It made me feel small, insecure, violated and extremely anxious,” she added.
She said Atkins also sent her a picture of a potato in a WhatsApp message and would “constantly say that I was lusting after the travellers outside the office”.
“I felt bullied and harassed by this,” Hayes said.