Eight nurses from a Darlington hospital in the UK have won a landmark case after being forced by management to accept a male in their changeroom.

The nurses won the case for sex-related harassment and indirect sex discrimination.

It comes on the back of a Supreme Court ruling last year that the terms 'woman' and 'man' in the Equality Act refer only to biological sex.

Management at the hospital said the man was just like having a ‘large woman’ around and were completely dismissive of the women’s concerns. After initial complaints they doubled down telling the nurses to be more inclusive and tolerant and even put signs up on the changeroom doors that promoted and protected the man’s feelings above the women’s concerns.

Rose Henderson, a male employee, said he identified as female despite trying to get his girlfriend pregnant. He repeatedly asked female nurses, “why aren’t you getting changed yet?”

Karen Danson, one of the eight nurses who complained, shared her experience.

She recalled: 'I was rummaging through my bag trying to find the keys for my locker when I suddenly heard a male voice from behind my back asking, 'Are you not getting changed yet?'

'I simply said "no". I kept rummaging through my bag and found my keys. Then Rose Henderson's voice again said, "Are you not getting changed yet?" I again said "no". All I could think about was: "Why is this man asking me if I am getting changed? Is he trying to provoke me for a reason?"

Ms Danson said she began texting her husband, but as she was typing, Rose asked her the question for a third time, prompting a "fight or flight" reaction.

'I could not move,' she said. 'I felt sick. My hands were sweaty.

'I did not know Rose Henderson at this point, and I did not know that he identified as a woman. It just seemed like there was a man in our changing room who wanted to watch me undress. I was sobbing, shaking and breathing heavily due to a panic attack. Rose Henderson was smirking at me.'

That is extremely creepy behaviour to say the least. His gross behaviour continued.

Nurse Bethany Hutchison told the tribunal: 'According to Vivienne, Rose Henderson said to her: "You do not look as big as this from behind." Vivienne was shocked and made no answer. Rose Henderson then asked her: "Have you got those large pregnancy breasts?"'

Management took the side of the male and insisted “those who had a problem with it needed to be 'educated, broaden their mindset and be more inclusive'.” Sounds like the very definition of misogyny. They even suggested Henderson do the “kindness” training himself.

The nurses victory ought to send a strong and powerful message to listen to women, and to stop promoting and defending the lie that men can be women.