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A senior employee, who said he struggled to recognise the line between friendships and intimate relationships because he was autistic, has failed to prove he was unfairly sacked for s-xual harassment.

The University of Melbourne associate professor sought reinstatement and backpay following his dismissal for serious misconduct in September last year.

The Fair Work Commission heard that in May, a research assistant who had previously worked for the employee (and had also been a student) complained to the employer that he had "groomed her" in 2016, and provided screenshots of numerous text messages...