A head teacher with cancer was banned from parks, libraries and leisure centres after his resentful assistant made false allegations that he bullied her, an employment tribunal found.
James Walker, a popular and long-serving head, was driven to the brink of suicide when his employers treated him in a manner “which bordered callousness”, a judge said. While he was suspended and awaiting the outcome of an investigation, his office was cleared and the contents put into rubbish bags, which the tribunal decided was “inexcusable”. None of his personal items was returned by the London Borough of Lambeth.
In a strongly worded judgment, the tribunal said that Mr Walker had been unfairly dismissed in a rigged process. Its decision was unanimous. (more)