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'He was attacking me': Al Fayed's former PA recounts attempted rape, HIV test, and trip to Paris
Speaking publicly for the first time Tanya Addison shares the abuse she experienced whilst working for former owner of Harrods, Mohamed Al Fayed, ITV News Correspondent Sejal Karia reports.
Some readers may find details of this report distressing.
For more than two decades Mohamed Al Fayed used the glamour and prestige of Harrods to seek out and prey on dozens of young women.
Women who claim they were subjected to horrific sexual abuse.
"I was on a sofa in the office, and he was on top of me," Tanya Addison recalled. "I knew I needed to get him off and there was a struggle. He was assaulting me. He was attacking me."
Ms Addison was 23 years old when she began working for him as a personal assistant. She said the abuse began almost immediately and ended several months later with Al Fayed trying to rape her.
"I was very frightened. I didn't even ring and tell my parents. I just felt humiliated and ashamed...really deeply ashamed," she said.
This is the first time she has spoken publicly about the abuse and she told ITV News that the office was far from a safe space and a place she dreaded going to everyday.
Ms Addison claims she was "molested" every time Al Fayed called her into his office one-to-one.
"Somebody would come out and say 'Mr. Fayed would like you to go in to see him'," she added.
Once inside "he would pull you down, make you sit on his lap, and he would sort of kiss you on the mouth. He would bring out wads of money, pull open your top and shove it down into your bra."
"How many times were you called in?" ITV News Correspondent Sejal Karia asked Ms Addison.
"It was regular. It was every week."
She said she succumbed out of fear of a man with power and influence who presided over a toxic culture of secrecy, intimidation, and the fear of repercussions.
"The network of people that he had around him to protect him was a terrifying environment. It's not easy to explain that to someone unless you've been in it," she said.
Even getting the job had been conditional on an intrusive medical check in Harley Street, London, Ms Addison recalled.
"I was seeing his [Al Fayed's] personal physician who was called Dr Ann Coxon. She did a normal medical but she also did a pelvic exam and took some swab.
"She then told me that I had to have an HIV test. She said that I could refuse but unfortunately I wouldn't be able to take up the position."
Dr Coxon has previously denied carrying out sexual health tests and in a statement told us she wasn't able to comment further.
Two days after that medical Ms Addison said she accompanied Al Fayed to the Ritz in Paris staying at his villa nearby.
One night she claims he came into her bedroom in his dressing gown, touching her and kissing her before eventually leaving.
"With no lock on the door I remember feeling a little bit panicky. You've got to remember, back then we didn't have mobile phones. Something just told me to sort of wedge something up against the door and I remember putting a chair up against the door."
Ms Addison was eventually fired some months later when she fought him off as he tried to rape her.
Harrods is now encouraging survivors to come forward and apply to the company's own abuse compensation scheme without having to resort to formal court proceedings.
When asked about how she found dealing directly with Harrods' representatives, Ms Addison called the process "frustrating".
"It feels to me that they really don't know what they're doing, that they are literally making this up as they're going along.
"A process which is so bewildering, one that I don't understand, that changes almost on a daily basis," and "a compensation scheme which just seems absolutely fraught with missed promises and poor communication."
Harrods has said previously it had already settled a number of claims for compensation.
Ms Addison said she's now been told the process has been delayed until at least April.
"They have been putting out into the media that this compensation process has been up and running for quite some time, for over a year" she said.
"Why all of a sudden are they having to delay it? I am understanding of the fact that this is bigger than they would have imagined. They were not prepared for the avalanche of women coming forward. There needs to be absolute transparency and clarity."
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Harrods told ITV News it cannot comment on individual cases but defended the compensation scheme.
In a statement it said: "Harrods has, since the beginning of this process, committed to developing a scheme quickly to settle and support survivors, whilst ensuring that the scheme is as robust, fair and transparent for survivors as possible. based on feedback from our independent advisors, it has become clear that a period of consultation is important, during which we are receiving feedback from all parties, including legal firms representing survivors, leading counsel, and survivors.
"While it was initially anticipated that application forms would be issued before Christmas, it has become clear that longer is needed to allow this consultation process, with the commitment now made that it will be up and running by April."
The company also has human rights campaigner Dame Jasvinder Sanghera as an advocate for the survivors. She was previously hired by the Church of England to help them confront their abuse allegations.
But Ms Addison said this still doesn't give her confidence.
"When you're hired by Harrods and presumably remunerated by Harrods, how can that be independent?"
"I am paid by the company that employs me." Dame Jasvinder told ITV News.
"You know, I am paid by Harrods. Very open about that. Just as I was paid by the Church of England when I was their independent survivor advocate and for taking a very brave stand for survivors, they ultimately sacked me.
"The point here is I take my independence very seriously, regardless of who pays me. I will raise my head above the parapet if I believe anything is not fair."
The Church of England has previously denied it ignored victims.
ITV News understands at least four other survivors also believe Dame Jasvinder's role represents a conflict of interest.
"Judge me by my integrity, judge me by my record, look at my history of 30 years of working as a survivor advocate. There is not a conflict of interest, I can assure you of that. I do not report back to Harrods.
"What I absolutely am going to ensure and fight for is that it [the compensation scheme] is survivor focused, it is transparent, it is fair. Survivors will have an opportunity, via me, to come to a focus group where the draft will be presented to put forward their views."
In the 30 years since Tanya left Harrods, she said she's had a series of crippling panic attacks.
She said the compensation isn't about the money but about acknowledging the abuse she suffered.
If you have been affected by anything in this article, help and advice can be found in the following places:
The Open Justice for All website
SARCs, a specialist medical and forensic services for anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted.
Rape crisis A national organisation which offers support and counselling for those affected by rape and sexual abuse.
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