A Bath television presenter has won a sexual harassment case after being abused on air by one of her camera crew.
Charlie Vernon, 28, was sacked from her job on a television show after she was seen on air giving a finger gesture.
The gesture was made in response to a crew member at studios in Redditch who Miss Vernon claimed had been calling her names through her earpiece. The presenter alleged she was called a "f"****** big whore" and a "big bitch".
Miss Vernon had developed a large fan base as the face of the Jewellery Maker television show.
An employment tribunal, held in Birmingham this week, heard that at first Miss Vernon laughed at the comments as she presented the programme last May, but later became shocked and "extremely offended" over the remarks.
She lost her job after a viewer made an official complaint about her gesture.
Miss Vernon said she had not realised her response had been seen by viewers.
Miss Vernon was seeking compensation at the tribunal for sexual harassment, victimisation and unfair dismissal against her former employers, the Genuine Gemstone Company of Eagle Road TV Studios, which had sacked her for bringing the firm into disrepute.
She told the tribunal :"I was shocked and extremely offended to be called a f****** big whore and a bitch on my earpiece. There's always the odd distraction joke among the camera crews during transmission, but it's usually innocent and friendly. I've never been insulted before by such crude language. This was taken to a different level and I did my best to carry on with the show despite what was going on."
Paul Roberts, representing the television firm, said Miss Vernon's gesture could have brought the firm's reputation into disrepute.
He said the firm denied Miss Vernon's allegations and said she worked as a freelance and was not an employee.
After a two-day hearing tribunal judge Victoria Dean said she agreed Miss Vernon had been an employee and that she had been sexually harassed.
She said Miss Vernon had been called a "big whore" and a "big bitch" which had been regarded as unprofessional.
Miss Dean awarded Miss Vernon £3,250 but rejected her claims for unfair dismissal and for victimisation.
Speaking after the tribunal Miss Vernon said it had been a difficult time for her.
"No one should have to put up with sexual harassment in the workplace and this is why I went through the process of taking my former employer to a tribunal."
Head of human resources at the Genuine Gemstone Company, Anna Meade, said the firm did not tolerate harassment.
"This incident occurred between the two individuals and upon investigation both were dismissed for their behaviour. The Genuine Gemstone Company is a family-owned business and the wellbeing of our employees is of utmost importance."
