The complainant, a senior lawyer at the time and who has name suppression, described Tingey as “lurking” outside her cabin during another work trip after he banged on the door to try to get in before texting and calling her.
She told the tribunal in evidence yesterday they were at a rural location and Tingey was acting aggressively and was intoxicated.
In another incident in April 2011, after the woman permanently ended their relationship, Tingey turned up at her house where he became angry and aggressive after he wasn’t allowed inside.
The Standards Committee claims he shouted at the woman’s new partner when the man appeared from inside, and made threats to contact the woman’s ex-husband to disclose personal details about her.
This morning the woman told the tribunal she didn’t get much support from the firm where she and Tingey worked after she made a complaint about his behaviour.
She said because their affair had been consensual and lengthy she didn’t feel there was much sympathy from senior management and that making another formal complaint could be career-limiting.
“I was in a very bad place,” the lawyer said. “He nearly destroyed my career.”
The woman said she contemplated getting a restraining order against Tingey but decided it wasn’t realistic because they worked in the same department.
Today Tingey took the stand and said he took responsibility for his behaviour.
“I’ve accepted everything I can,” he said. “I acted badly and treated her badly.”
Tingey faces a charge of misconduct where the Standards Committee alleges his behaviour toward the woman was disgraceful or dishonourable in relation to breaking into her apartment in 2009 and turning up at her home in 2011. Tingey accepts the facts of those charges.
However, he faces another charge of misconduct which he denies relating to facts of other incidents.
Tingey said after the 2011 incident the woman was “in a bad way” and was visibly upset at work.
“I felt like I’d ruined everything for her and for us. I didn’t think I could fix it… I felt so ashamed.”
Tingey suggested the woman’s reluctance to let him into her room during the two work trips was because she was afraid of exposing their affair, rather than trying to get away from him.
“We were meeting daily and in contact, she was just worried it would come out.”
He denied attempting to force his way into the room at two separate work events and said the woman had misremembered the situation.
