Tribunal told of senior officer's 'Miss Whiplash' remarks

Douglas Adams, who was assistant director of children's services at Barnsley Borough Council, is accused of misconduct by the General Social Care Council in relation to four women.

The regulator listed the allegations at the start of the hearing in London.

Adams, 56, of Nottingham, allegedly said he knew Ms D, a junior member of administrative staff, was pregnant because her "tits" had got bigger and told her it would be easy to have an abortion because her pregnancy was not far gone.

He is also accused of telling the woman her boyfriend was "using her for sex" and that she would lose her figure, during a conversation in April 2006.

Adams, who did not attend the hearing, is alleged to have said to another colleague, Ms A: "Oh yes, I can see you in a Miss Whiplash outfit with high leather boots taking them (her male colleagues) in hand."

Sean Larkin, presenting the case for the GSCC, said Ms D was aged around 20 at the time.

She claimed Adams's comments about her pregnancy had "upset her and made her feel uncomfortable", according to Mr Larkin.

When managers at Barnsley Council discussed the matter with him, he told them that while he did not accept all the allegations he admitted it was inappropriate and put it into context by describing it as "shock tactics" to discuss her pregnancy.

Adams was suspended on June 9 2006 before a disciplinary hearing on July 26.

This hearing, which is expected to last three days, continues today.