Defence Secretary Michael Fallon admits to repeatedly touching female journalist Julia Hartley-Brewer’s knee 15 years ago

DEFENCE Secretary Michael Fallon last night ­admitted inappropriately touching a female journalist — while six Cabinet ministers were named in a ­dossier of alleged Tory sex pests.

Mr Fallon confessed that he was the minister who talkRADIO presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer threatened to punch for repeatedly putting his hand on her knee.

Meanwhile, a bombshell spreadsheet drawn up by female and male workers in Westminster and leaked to The Sun detailed allegations against 36 top Tories. They include 21 serving ministers, ex-Cabinet ministers and a Parliamentary Private Secretary.

Married father-of-two Mr Fallon admitted to The Sun he had touched Julia — but insisted he apologised over the incident 15 years ago and that both considered the matter closed.

A pal said: “Julia’s a good friend of Michael’s. He overstepped the mark when he put his hand on her knee. She made clear it was unwelcome and he rightly apologised 15 years ago.”

Earlier Julia had told how a Cabinet Minister had “repeatedly put his hand on my knee during a party conference dinner”.

She added: “I calmly and politely explained to him that, if he did it again, I would punch him in the face. He withdrew his hand and that was the end of the matter.”

Julia said she did not feel like she was a victim of a sexual assault, and found the incident nothing more than “mildly amusing”.

Last night Prime Minister Theresa May vowed to crack down on any MP proven to have behaved badly.

There was a flurry of denials from Tory MPs on the spreadsheet. Labour called for the whip to be removed from Tories Mark Garnier, who asked his PA to buy sex toys, and Stephen Crabb, who sent sex texts to two women.