Back on track | Sacked train driver who left spider skin in colleague's pigeonhole wins job back

A train driver who was sacked after leaving a spider skin in a co-worker’s pigeonhole has been awarded more than £42,000 and given his job back.

Jonathan Richardson pranked his colleague by placing a tarantula in a female driver’s pigeonhole after she admitted a fear of them, but the joke backfired when the woman reported him to bosses, resulting in him losing his job on the grounds of bullying.

But an employment tribunal held in late 2023 ruled this was the wrong track to take and that, although the victim was genuinely left distressed, the intention was a harmless prank.

Now, months later, a judge has ruled he must be given his job back. Mr Richardson will also receive £22,571.22, representing his loss of earnings until 6 July 2023, plus £704.99 per week from 7 July 2023 until his reinstatement - bringing his total compensation to more than £42,000.