Alex Bousfield

Royal Navy sailor Emma Upton-Webb claimed she was subjected to direct and indirect sex discrimination after being refused entry to officer training because she could not take the required 2.4km fitness test around nine months after giving birth. The Navy's policy allows women returning from maternity leave to use a less demanding one-mile walk for up to two years, while exempting them from passing the fitness test for 18 months, on health and safety grounds. Southampton Employment Tribunal rejected her claim, finding that the restrictions were intended to protect postnatal servicewomen from injury and that her demotion was not discriminatory. Upton-Webb remains in the Navy and is appealing the decision.

An inquest concluded that Christopher and Kayleigh Coll died from carbon monoxide poisoning after using an unsuitable and partially disconnected parabolic gas heater inside their van while staying overnight at the New Forest Cider Festival. Coroner Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp ruled the deaths a misadventure, citing the enclosed space, the heater’s improper attachment, and its unsuitability for indoor use. Expert testimony confirmed the heater lacked safety sensors and was nearly empty of gas. Family members described the couple fondly, and the coroner expressed concern about the lack of clear safety warnings to prevent future deaths.

Residents living near Bishops Farm in Bishop's Waltham report years of severe noise disturbances from a supported-living care home run by Acorns Health Care, prompting strong objections to a retrospective planning application. Neighbours argue that constant screaming, shouting and loud activity from both tenants and carers severely affects their wellbeing and makes proposed mitigation measures, such as acoustic fencing and tree planting, inadequate. Concerns include reduced quality of life, lack of prior consultation, and claims that the property is unsuitable for residents with complex needs. The planning application is set to be reviewed by the Winchester City Council Planning Committee.

Hampshire Constable Dan Anghelina was dismissed without notice and placed on the police barred list for at least five years after being found guilty of gross misconduct. He viewed 92 photographs of sex workers in police records during a night shift, then exchanged messages with a sex-work facilitator about arranging an encounter, although he said he ultimately changed his mind. He was also found to have repeatedly used the records system for personal searches involving neighbours, pubs, his partner and himself, including while on sick leave, and to have sent information to his personal email. Hampshire Constabulary argued that the searches breached professional standards and exposed sensitive information to misuse and potential blackmail.

Senior nurse Elaine Sullivan was struck from the Nursing and Midwifery Council register after admitting misconduct involving 13 colleagues over a ten-month period. A tribunal found that her threats, humiliating comments, gossip and breaches of confidentiality created a toxic workplace. It also found that she falsely presented herself as a clinical lead in a court report, contributing to a child’s removal from their mother, and diagnosed a patient outside her competence. The panel deemed the conduct serious and harmful, while Sullivan expressed shame, apologised and said she believed removal from the register was appropriate.

An employment tribunal ruled that the University of Manchester discriminated against learning technologist Karenne Sylvester by failing to account for her dyspraxia-related memory difficulties after she misgendered a transgender colleague. Investigators were found to have ignored evidence that her disability contributed to the incident and conducted an unfair inquiry, resulting in her transfer to another team and restrictions on workplace interaction. The tribunal determined that the misgendering stemmed from her condition, awarding her £51,223 in compensation. Other claims were dismissed, and two managers were found personally liable for the discriminatory handling of the case.

Taryl Spinks, an aftersales manager at Snows Toyota in Paignton, was dismissed after sending a customer strongly worded emails following repeated abusive calls and demands over vehicle diagnostic work. A Bristol employment tribunal found that although his emails lacked professionalism, they were written under substantial provocation while he was trying to protect his team. The tribunal also criticized the dealership’s investigation for failing to obtain call recordings or interview staff, and awarded Spinks £21,031 for wrongful and unfair dismissal.

A support worker was dismissed by Lifeways Group for taking a disabled patient to his home for New Year’s Day despite claiming it was an act of kindness approved by the family. An investigation found he failed to document the visit, created a conflict of interest, and acted without proper authority while local authorities held guardianship. An employment tribunal ruled the dismissal fell within the range of reasonable responses for gross misconduct and upheld the employer’s decision.

A British pensioner was killed in 2020 when an unlicensed lorry driver reversed over her at the port of Bridgetown, Barbados, but the criminal case against the driver was dismissed because the area was not deemed a public road. An inquest in Portsmouth revealed repeated delays in the Barbados proceedings, lack of family notification before the appeal deadline, and serious safety failures involving the vehicle and port environment. The coroner criticized the handling of the case and detailed the circumstances of the incident, including inadequate mirrors, lack of alarms, and the driver's negligent manoeuvring. Eyewitness accounts and investigative findings reinforced that the truck's setup and the driver's actions contributed to the fatal collision. The inquest continues.

A 79-year-old woman from Hook was banned for life from all Sainsbury’s stores after a dispute over buying a Euromillions ticket, with staff accusing her of rudeness and inappropriate behaviour. She denies wrongdoing and says she was treated unfairly, leaving her distressed and forced to travel farther to shop. Sainsbury’s states the ban followed multiple incidents and was made to protect staff and customers.

A duck named Merlin became a viral sensation and Mexico’s unofficial World Cup mascot after appearing in team colours during celebrations in Mexico City. Already a local favourite, Merlin’s fame surged following Mexico’s win over South Africa, with images of the dressed-up duck spreading widely online. His owner, Carla Gómez, expressed surprise at the global attention and hopes the mascot continues to bring luck to the team.

A senior parking warden for Harrow Council was dismissed after being convicted of misusing his deceased mother’s blue badge to avoid parking charges. An employment tribunal ruled the dismissal fair, citing his long experience enforcing parking regulations, his failure to disclose the offence, and concerns over honesty. The tribunal found his actions constituted gross misconduct and that his explanation involving an aunt did not offset responsibility as the vehicle’s registered owner.

A junior doctor, Preethi Suresh, received a 12‑month suspension after falsely claiming attendance at a training day while she was on leave for her wedding. Her supervisor discovered the discrepancy when reviewing her portfolio, leading to an investigation by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal. Suresh admitted intentionally submitting false documents, citing stress and confusion about attendance requirements, though the tribunal found her misconduct serious and motivated by professional gain. The panel determined that her actions posed a risk to patient safety by undermining trust in professional records and ruled that mitigating personal circumstances did not diminish the severity of her dishonesty.

A coroner concluded that the death of 22-year-old Roman Barr from an asthma attack could likely have been prevented with earlier emergency intervention, citing ambulance shortages and unclear triage questions that failed to capture the severity of his condition. His father’s description of him as a “deathly colour” was misinterpreted due to his darker skin tone, and clearer prompts such as asking about blue or grey lips were not used. A prevention of future deaths report called for changes to NHS triage wording and improvements to ambulance availability. Evidence also showed excessive inhaler use indicating poor asthma control, prompting his GP practice to implement new monitoring measures. His family urged national attention to prevent similar tragedies.

A teacher employed by the London Borough of Newham was dismissed for gross misconduct after it was discovered he worked multiple roles, including running a chess club and teaching English, while signed off sick with myasthenia gravis. Despite warnings that outside work during sick leave breached the council’s code of conduct, he continued these activities. An employment tribunal ruled the dismissal fair, citing a breach of trust and the inconsistency between his sick leave claims and his outside work.

A Bristol employment tribunal ruled that Kevin Bond and Steve Haberfield were wrongfully and unfairly dismissed from Bond’s Utilities Services after refusing specific weekend shifts due to family medical commitments. Judge Jeremy Stuart found that neither employee was contractually required to work weekends and that the dismissals were conducted without any fair procedure, breaching all aspects of the ACAS code. The judge criticised the operations manager’s conduct and company owner Darren Bond’s failure to intervene. Both men were awarded nearly £30,000 each in compensation, with no deductions, as the tribunal determined they would likely still be employed had proper processes been followed.

An employment tribunal awarded NHS healthcare assistant Ilda Esteves £1,425 after finding that colleague Charles Oppong repeatedly called her “auntie” and made comments about her being a suitable match for an older coworker, creating an offensive work environment. The tribunal rejected Oppong’s defence that the term was respectful in Ghanaian culture, citing credibility issues in his testimony. Esteves succeeded on her harassment claim, while additional claims of discrimination, victimisation and wage deductions were dismissed.