A married former Labour MP has admitted having wanted a sexual relationship with a parliamentary staff member and getting into her bed after she had rejected his sexual advances. Mike Hill, who represented Hartlepool until March, texted the woman, known only as Ms A, saying he was in love with her, “craved” her body, and describing himself as “emotionally fucked”. Ms A has claimed he conducting a campaign of sexual harassment and bullying against her over a 16-month period. She claims he groped her and rubbed his penis against her in his apartment in Pimlico, central London. Hill has denied the allegations against him but says he did get into bed with her on one occasion with her permission because he had a bad back. During cross-examination at the central London employment tribunal on Friday, Hill was questioned about the text messages he sent Ms A. One message read out to the tribunal said: “You know that I crave your company and intelligence and conversation all the time. But that I also crave your body too.” Asked repeatedly by the claimant’s barrister, Samuel Nicholls, if that meant he wanted to have sex with Ms A, Hill said: “Part of having a relationship would be that.” In another message, Hill said: “Of course I will escape when I can, I want you to be part of my future. You know how much I love you.” Asked whether he loved the claimant, Hill told the tribunal: “At some stage, I believe I was in love with her.” In another text, Hill wrote: “I’m truly sorry, I hope we have a future in the long term. Hoping I could look after you and care for you like I have done. Didn’t know your feelings were a million miles from that. Sorry. I couldn’t cope with a loveless future as I have that now. If I could propose to you today, I would.” Hill, who confirmed he was married at the time of the messages, said he accepted that the claimant did not want a romantic sexual relationship with him. In a witness statement, Ms A said she had known Hill as a friend for several years when he suggested she move to London to work in parliament. She claimed Hill suggested that they could live together in a flat to save her costs. In September 2017 after she had made arrangements to leave her home and move to London, she claims Hill called her and declared his love for her. After rejecting Hill’s suggestions, she claims Hill apologised and insisted she should still work and live with him. Hill said he could not recall these conversations. Earlier in the hearing, Hill said he had received training on the issue of sexual harassment while in a previous role as a regional organiser for the trade union Unison. He said he was aware the claimant had post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Hill resigned from his Hartlepool seat in March, triggering the byelection in which the former red wall seat swung to the Conservatives. The tribunal, which is due to last a week and a half, continues.