Gay Heathrow security guard wins discrimination claim
A gay airport security guard is expected to receive £30,000 compensation after a woman colleague was found to have harassed him on the grounds of his sexual orientation. Allwyn Rondeau alleged that the co-worker wobbled her breasts against him and bent over a plane seat, shaking her bottom at him.
Allwyn Rondeau, a security guard at Heathrow told the tribunal that he made it clear to Lucy Chilton that he was homosexual and not interested in her after she told other staff that she wanted to have oral sex with him. However, she persisted in her advances. This included ‘wobbling’ her breasts against him and bending over a plane seat, shaking her bottom at him and saying “Come on, give it to me”. When Mr Rondeau failed to respond, she said: “You wouldn’t know what to do with a woman anyway.”
Miss Chilton, denied sexually harassing Mr Rondeau, but the tribunal found that Mr Rondeau, was a credible witness and that his allegations had a ring of truth about them. It found that Miss Chilton had created an offensive environment for Mr Rondeau after hearing she had acted in a similar way towards other men in the past. The tribunal upheld Mr Rondeau’s claims of harassment on the grounds of sexual orientation against both Miss Chilton, as an individual respondent in the case, and G4S as her employer.
Mr Rondeau has not returned to work since the last act of harassment, as he is suffering from anxiety and depression. His lawyer expects him to receive £30,000 at the remedies hearing
This provides summary information and comment on the subject areas covered. Where employment tribunal and appellate court cases are reported, the information does not set out all of the facts, the legal arguments presented and the judgments made in every aspect of the case. Employment law is subject to constant change either by statute or by interpretation by the courts. While every care has been taken in compiling this information, we cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Specialist legal advice must be taken on any legal issues that may arise before embarking upon any formal course of action.