Clamp on sex claim name (From Penarth Times)

Clamp on sex claim name

A PENARTH singer who claims she was sexually discriminated against by a world famous rock star will not see him identified by the press.

Linda Gail Lewis, 54, sister of pop legend Jerry Lee Lewis, alleges that the un-named star made "numerous unwanted sexual advances and suggestions" to her.

She also claims she rejected his offer of marriage - after which he subjected her to "professional humiliation".

Several local news organisations applied to a tribunal in Cardiff to lift an identity ban on the star.

But the tribunal ruled the star can keep his anonymity in reports of the employment discrimination case because of allegations of "sexual misconduct".

Chairman Philip Davies this week revealed an allegation from Miss Lewis was that in May 2000, at a hotel in Exeter, the star told her to look for a woman in the hotel "so that he could go back and have sex with them both".

The court also heard that later that evening he asked her to perform oral sex on him.

Barrister Joanne Cash, representing the news organisations, argued: "These are exceptional circumstances relating to the celebrity status of the respondent.

"The press are the eyes and ears of the public and the public has a right to know about these matters."

Miss Cash claimed the tribunal had abused its powers last October by applying the gagging order, made under section 11 of the Employment Tribunal Act.

The star's lawyer, Paul Goulding QC, said the act was designed to "prevent excesses of the media to put undue pressure on those involved in the case."

He said: "When there is a press frenzy and the public has an appetite for salacious tittle-tattle, it is bound to affect anybody giving evidence, however thick-skinned they are."

Chairman Philip Davies said: "The over-riding consideration was the necessity to ensure the due administration of justice." The singer is alleged to have twice asked Miss Lewis to divorce her husband Eddie Braddock.

He is also accused of twice verbally abusing her, ignoring her as they sang together on stage and of forcing her to improvise during her act.

Miss Lewis is also claiming she was unfairly dismissed by the star.

But Mr Goulding said none of the allegations should be considered by the tribunal because Miss Lewis had never been employed by the star.