A former newspaper publisher in Alabama is accused of sexually harassing former employees as far back as the 1970s, with reports of the former executive 'spanking female employees with a metal ruler'.

The publisher, H. Brandt Ayers, is currently the chairman of Consolidated Publishing, the company that owns the Anniston Star, a local newspaper in Alabama. Ayers is accused of targeting and sexually abusing female staffers at the Star - one account from a female journalist in the newsroom recalls Ayers calling her a 'bad girl' following an editorial she wrote, and spanking her 18 times with a ruler.

Ayers is now 82 and the harassment he's accused of took place four decades ago when he was in his early 40s. His accuser was 22 at the time.

H. Brandt Ayers, 82, is accused of harassing former employees in the newsroom at the Anniston Star dating back to the 1970s

Other former staffers at the Anniston Star have also reported similar accusations against Ayers, according to AL.com.

'As a very young man with more authority than judgment, I did some things I regret,' Ayers said. 'At my advanced age I wish I could relive those days again, knowing the seriousness of my position and with the accumulated judgment that goes with age,' Ayers said in a story that ran New Year's Day in the Star.

The allegations against Ayers come not long after the Alabama senate election on December 12, which saw Doug Jones defeat Roy Moore, following weeks of sexual harassment allegations against Moore. Ayers wrote a column on Moore several weeks before the election, urging voters not to vote for him followings his alleged past conduct.