A judge was told the allegations arose out of what had been a long-standing private WhatsApp relationship featuring what the male employee says was "playful, mutual and sexualised banter."

He will be able to mount a defence and respond to the claims when the case resumes in early October

Fernanda Hermosilla settled her case against a colleague for £21,000 and against her employer, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, for £15,000