Tycoon sues over email 'sex slur' by women employees

Russian millionaire Michail "Micha" Watford has issued a writ against his former employees, Therese Hanrahan and Angela Zarco, after they complained about his alleged behaviour in emails.

Mr Watford, 53, made his fortune in energy and now runs a firm specialising in property development and design.

The women were employed in the computer department of his Chelsea firm, High Life Developments, and both of them attended the company's Christmas party last December.

After the party the women made official complaints - by email - against Mr Watford and his colleague Jeremy Tyler.

However, in a High Court writ Mr Watford says that in copying the emails to a number of people, the two women defamed him by claiming he had sexually harassed both of them.

Ms Hanrahan first contacted one of the firm's senior managers, Mr Tyler's brother Charles, who was not present at the time of the alleged incidents. She told him she had been left angry and upset by her bosses' behaviour and demanded an apology.

Ms Hanrahan, of Hammersmith, copied the email to Ms Zarco, two other High Life colleagues and her boyfriend Christopher Carrodus, a lawyer with City legal firm Dechert. At the same time Ms Zarco, 31, emailed Mr Watford and Jeremy Tyler outlining the same allegations and calling for an apology.

Ms Zarco, of Lewisham, copied her email to Charles Tyler and another colleague.

In response to the emails Mr Watford's writ states: "The claimant has been seriously injured in his personal and professional reputation and has been caused considerable distress and embarrassment."

Mr Watford, who is also seeking a court order preventing Ms Hanrahan and Ms Zarco from repeating their allegations, is described by sources as "a mini-oligarch in the style of Roman Abramovich".

He is understood to have business interests in Russia, Ukraine and Turkey. His British home is a £7 million property on the Wentworth Estate in Virginia Water, Surrey.

The grounds, which have their own five-a-side football pitch and cricket pavilion, are guarded by CCTV cameras and 24-hour security.

High Life Developments, based in King's Road, is described as "a company specialising in bespoke property development and interior design at the luxury end of the housing market".

In her entry on the networking website Facebook, Ms Zarco, who trained in design, describes her political views as "very liberal" and her interests as "men".

She is understood to be out of the country travelling.

A spokesman for Dechert, which is acting for Ms Hanrahan and Ms Zarco - both of whom no longer work for High Life - said the firm would not be commenting on the case.

Mr Watford's solicitor, Mark Boardman, said: "These women's allegations are false and they are strenuously denied by my client."