One of Kevin Booth's teenage staff today claimed he handcuffed her to a chair before horsewhipping her until her skin was bruised and marked.

Lesley Hoyle, left, - who was 16 at the time - alleged she had to take the "whacking" and sleep with him while he videoed the episode in order to keep her job.

She said her agonising ordeal began when she was late for work.

Miss Hoyle, now 19, of Ravenscliffe, Bradford, said she had "slept in" one morning and when she rang him to apologise, he allegedly sacked her. When Miss Hoyle called back later, he told her to pick up her wages from the Skipton headquarters of Isiris.

She said: "When I got there it was just him in the office. He was listening to opera. He asked if I liked my job and I said 'yes'.She said Booth was "twiddling" the whip in his hands and claimed: "Then he just came out with it. He said to get my wages I would have to sleep with him. I started laughing. I couldn't believe it. Then I realised he was being serious."

After she refused, Booth offered another £150, effectively doubling her wage. She said: "I just sat there and looked at him. I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to do it."

But Miss Hoyle claimed she was desperate to keep her job - and so reluctantly agreed.