Victory for Annabel Karmel over sex pest claims

Celebrity chef Annabel Karmel was celebrating last night after sex claims against her were withdrawn.

Mark Salter, a former male employee 18 years her junior, had brought a claim for unfair dismissal, stating he spurned her sexual advances.

An employment tribunal heard that Annabel Karmel (pictured), 57, famous for her children’s food recipes, allegedly wore skimpy clothing in a bid to seduce 39-year old  Salter, her sales manager who she asked to be her “personal chaperone”.

But all claims against the celebrity chef, who has authored 37 books, have now been “unreservedly retracted”.

Karmel’s legal team had initially obtained a gagging order against the disclosure of her identity, after arguing that her wholesome image as a mother and homemaker would be “irreparably damaged” by the allegations.

However, the Daily Mail appealed, successfully overturning the original decree.