Instagram model Chelsea Bourke’s explosive claims against Titeline Drilling

Instagram model Chelsea Bourke claims her boss at Titeline Drilling once asked her “what colour panties are you wearing”.

Chelsea Bourke has taken her former employer, Titeline Drilling, to the Federal Court.

A young mother and Instagram fashion blogger is suing the Victorian mining company she worked at for 15 years after claiming she was sacked for filing a sexual harassment complaint against her boss.

Chelsea Bourke, 36, has revealed the slew of “unwelcome and unsolicited advances and comments” she received by Titeline Drilling director William Ricciardi as she launched Federal Court action seeking compensation and an apology.

She said she felt “offended, humiliated and intimidated” by Mr Ricciardi, whose remarks — often of a sexual nature referring to her appearance and how he would leave his wife and kids for her — spanned over the 16 months to June this year when she complained to management.

But Titeline has not backed down, and in its defence, filed with the court on Friday, claims Ms Bourke’s dismissal on September 13 was because of “serious misconduct”.

It accused the executive assistant and accounts and payroll manager of giving herself unauthorised payrises and forwarding confidential emails to her boyfriend, who was a Titeline contractor.

Chelsea Bourk said she felt ‘offended, humiliated and intimidated’ by the comments received by Titeline Drilling director William Ricciardi.

But Ms Bourke claims Titeline only raised “an array of allegations” against her for the first time in her employment with them in a bid to persuade her to withdraw her complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Among the complaints was an incident at a work function in February last year when Ms Bourke claims while referring to the music they should play, she asked Mr Ricciardi, “what would you like?”

He allegedly responded: “You to take your clothes off”.

Later that year, at another event, Ms Bourke alleges Mr Ricciardi declared his love for her: “I love you. I have always loved you. I want to take you outside and do things to you”.

The messages increased in June last year, she claims, with Mr Ricciardi telling her he was going to leave his wife and kids, and wanted her and her son to move in with him.

In a WhatsApp message on June 8 last year, Mr Ricciardi wrote: “Very nice insta. I wish I could comment, hottest thing I’ve ever seen”.

Ms Bourke did not reply.

Ms Bourke said she often laughed off Mr Ricciardi’s comments.

“What colour panties are you wearing,” he allegedly asked her on another occasion.

Ms Bourke said she often laughed off Mr Ricciardi’s comments, but had also made it clear to him she was not interested, telling him she did not see him in that way.

In August last year, when Titeline Drilling introduced a policy prohibiting sexual harassment, Ms Bourke says Mr Ricciardi rang her and said he didn’t feel comfortable signing off on the policy because it meant he wouldn’t be able to speak to her “like I normally do”.

But the policy did not stop him, and in September, she said he suggested over the phone that his 50th birthday was nearing, and asked if she could send him “one of your sexy Instagram pics, just for me”.

The relentless remarks continued into the new year, with Mr Ricciardi sending her a photo of his holiday accommodation in April, saying “My wife has left our holiday. Do you want to come up and visit me?”

The next month, he again told Ms Bourke he would leave his wife for her and “I want to be with you”.

With her health deteriorating, Ms Bourke went on sick leave in June.

The case will come before Justice Mordy Bromberg on December 1.