Fayed was 'a monster enabled by Harrods', says lawyer

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Mohamed Al Fayed, the former owner of Harrods, "was a monster" enabled by a system that "pervaded" the London store, a lawyer for his accusers has said.

The late Harrods owner was described as a "sexual predator" who assaulted staff and threatened them over a 25-year-period, barristers representing dozens of women told a press conference in London on Friday.

Dean Armstrong KC said it was time Harrods "took responsibility" after allegations against Fayed - including rape - were made in a BBC investigation this week.

Harrods has said it is "utterly appalled" by the allegations and has condemned his actions "in the strongest terms".

At the press conference around 20 survivors sat at the front, at times nodding in agreement, and often shaking their heads as they listened intently to what was at times grim and disturbing details of allegations against Fayed.

Some women were too afraid to come to the event.

But Natacha spoke out about her time working for Fayed when she was 19. She said she was speaking out now for the sake of her own daughters and nieces.

She described Fayed as "clever and manipulative" and someone who "preyed on the most vulnerable".

Natacha said Fayed subjected her to a forced kiss, made her sit on his lap so he could "explore" her body, and on one occasion forced himself on her in his private apartment.

He threatened her, saying he knew where she and her family lived and that she would "never work in London again" if she spoke out about what had happened to her.

The press conference heard how many women who worked for him were subjected to intrusive medical tests, including full cervical smears and having their ovaries checked.

They were either not told the results of those tests or suffered what was described as "degrading and humiliating comments" by Fayed about the test results.

Natacha told reporters she believed the medical examinations were used to evaluate their sexual "purity".

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