Theresa May was aware of a "pattern of behaviour" involving Damian Green before she made him her effective deputy, the woman who sparked the inquiry ​has claimed.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Kate Maltby says she told a 10 Downing Street aide in September 2016 that Mr Green had touched her leg and sent a suggestive text message.

She says the aide told her that her experience was part of a pattern and added "the Prime Minister knows".

Nine months later, Mr Green, who at the time was the work and pensions secretary, was appointed as first secretary of state by Mrs May.

Miss Maltby’s allegation was considered as part of the official Whitehall investigation into Mr Green by Sue Gray, the head of propriety and ethics at the Cabinet Office.

The inquiry did not present any conclusions about whether Mr Green had acted inappropriately but did conclude that Miss Maltby was a "plausible" witness.

Number 10 sources denied that the aide had made the admission to Miss Maltby or that Mrs May was told about Mr Green. The source declined to say if the aide was interviewed as part of Ms Gray's inquiry.

The source added: “The Cabinet Office conducted a thorough investigation into a number of allegations about Damian Green. The inquiry findings were published yesterday."