Sexist comments made by former Barclays executive Stephen Jones about financier Amanda Staveley came to light in the ongoing £1.5bn High Court battle over the lender’s financial crisis cash call.

Jones said that Staveley had “large breasts” and was “thick as sh*t” during calls with Stephen Morse, Barclays’ then head of compliance, in October 2008, transcripts of the calls heard in court on 23 July show. The two men were discussing Barclays’ emergency £7.3bn cash-call with Middle Eastern investors in October 2008. Jones is giving evidence today.