The former chief executive of the Terrence Higgins Trust has told an employment tribunal that she was unjustly dismissed from the charity and was the victim of a campaign of bullying.

Rosemary Gillespie (pictured), who was dismissed as the chief executive of the HIV and sexual health charity in July 2015 after 15 months in charge, told the Central London Employment Tribunal yesterday that she was forced out of her job after she began investigating allegations of sexual misconduct and mismanagement of charitable funds at the charity.

Gillespie said she was appointed by the charity with a mandate from the trustees to make changes but that a small number of staff resistant to the changes leant on the trustees and had her dismissed.

As is being widely reported, Gillespie told the tribunal of an allegation of sexual harassment by a staff member against a trustee. Gillespie also said she raised a public interest disclosure over an allegation of mismanagement of charitable funds.

Gillespie is seeking damages from her former employer in the form of compensation for lost wages since she was dismissed. The hearing continues.

A spokeswoman from the Terrence Higgins Trust told Civil Society News that as this was an ongoing legal issue, the charity was unable to comment. She said that, once the trial ends, the charity will make a full statement.