Gay Security Guard Awarded £62,525

A former security guard at Heathrow Airport has been awarded £62,525 in compensation after a woman colleague was found to have harassed him on the grounds of his sexual orientation.

Reading Employment Tribunal (ET) heard that Allwyn Rondeau, who worked for G4S Security Services at Heathrow terminals 1 and 4, had made it clear to Lucy Chilton that he was homosexual after she told colleagues that she was attracted to him. Miss Chilton persisted in her advances towards him however. On one occasion, she was said to have 'wobbled her breasts' against him and then told him he 'wouldn't know what to do with a woman anyway'.

Initially, Mr Rondeau did not report the incidents. After he rejected Miss Chilton's advances, however, she accused him of inappropriate sexual behaviour and he was 'frogmarched' from work, stripped of his security pass and suspended.

Miss Chilton's complaint was rejected following an internal investigation. When Mr Rondeau subsequently lodged a complaint against Miss Chilton for harassment, she was not suspended from work.

Miss Chilton denied sexually harassing Mr Rondeau. However, the ET found him to be a credible witness whose allegations had a 'ring of truth'. In its view, Miss Chilton had created an 'offensive environment' for Mr Rondeau at work. The ET found that Miss Chilton's conduct constituted harassment on the grounds of sexual orientation and that the actions of G4S boss Brian Johnson, who was aware that Mr Rondeau was gay, amounted to less favourable treatment on grounds of sexual orientation.

Mr Rondeau was traumatised by these events and has been unable to return to work. He was diagnosed with depression and now rarely leaves the house.

The sum awarded includes compensation for loss of earnings, £12,500 for injury to feelings and £10,500 for psychiatric injury.

Aston Bond says, "A YouGov poll has revealed that nearly one in five gay people claim to be bullied at work on account of their sexuality. Employers who fail to take steps to root out discriminatory behaviour of this nature run the risk of paying a heavy penalty. We can advise you on any discrimination matter."

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