Kevin Rudd's star Victorian recruit Geoff Lake's abuse of wheelchair-bound woman revealed Geoff Lake, who is running for the Labor safe seat of Hotham, has admitted he offered an apology to a fellow Monash councillor over a 2002 exchange. KEVIN Rudd's star recruit for a safe seat in Victoria has admitted he abused a woman in a wheelchair. Geoff Lake, a lawyer chosen to run to replace Simon Crean in the prized seat of Hotham, also admitted he had been accused of stalking a political rival. In a blow to the Prime Minister's campaign, Mr Lake has admitted he offered a signed apology to fellow Monash councillor Kathy Magee over a 2002 exchange. "I leant over to Councillor Magee and ... said, "I can't believe what you did you f------ bitch. You are a f ------ for doing that," Mr Lake confirms in papers. Documents lodged with the Victorian Equal Opportunity Commission included an admission that his conduct had been "demeaning and degrading," and offensive to women. Mr Lake said he deeply regretted his remarks. It was 'slut' or 'bitch'. It was inappropriate," he told the Herald Sun. I learned an important lesson that day. I was a young mayor and I got angry one night and I spoke to her in angry way, which I acknowledged then and I acknowledge now. Mr Lake won preselection for the former Labor leader's seat after a bitter contest. Ex-councillor Kathy Magee remains offended by Mr Lake's comments. He was backed by Mr Crean and former Victorian Labor premier Steve Bracks. In a signed apology brokered by the Victorian Equal Opportunity Commission in 2002, Mr Lake wrote: "I privately spoke and behaved towards Councillor Magee in a way that was demeaning and degrading and could be particularly offensive to females. I acknowledge that my comments were totally inappropriate and I apologise. Contacted by the Herald Sun, Mr Lake said: "If I had used any word other than 'slut' this would not be an issue." Asked if it would have been a problem if he had called her a "f------ bitch," Mr Lake conceded it would. Ten years on, Ms Magee has not forgiven or forgotten. "When someone calls you a slut, it tends to be offensive," she told the Herald Sun. I had never had someone call me that before. You just don't talk to a colleague like that. He was definitely an interesting person. Ms Magee also claimed Mr Lake tried to charge drinks and brunch to her hotel account at a council conference. Mr Lake denied this, but confirmed he did refund Ms Magee the disputed money. "That was not me," he said. She said she was $30 out of pocket and I said, 'Look, Kathy, let's not have these disagreements. Here's $30, and let's move on. Documents also reveal that in 2003 another fellow councillor, Tom Morrissey, accused Mr Lake of stalking him, and sought an intervention order. In an application to the Magistrates' Court, Mr Morrissey, who has since died, said Mr Lake distributed his mobile number, alleging he had travelled at ratepayers' expense, which prompted dozens of abusive calls. And he accused Mr Lake of parking a car at his business with placards repeating the claims. In a note, Mr Lake apologises for "any emotional distress caused by my actions." "I regret attending the business premises of Mr Morrissey ... and apologise," he wrote. Late yesterday Mr Lake rang Ms Magee. After asking if she'd spoken to media he said he wanted to again apologise.