'He wasn't prosecuted' | Worker unfairly sacked after HR saw video of him being confronted by 'paedophile hunters'

A warehouse worker who was sacked after a co-worker found a video of him being confronted by ‘paedophile hunters’ was unfairly dismissed, an employment tribunal has ruled.

Gypsumtools, a plastering and dry lining supplies firm based in Leicester, sacked the employee amid concerns that continuing his employment could damage the firm’s reputation, despite no charges ever being made against the man in relation to the claims made in the video.

An employment tribunal judge has now awarded the man more than £21,000 in compensation, after ruling that bosses at Gypsumtools failed to consider alternatives to sacking the employee and failed to make appropriate legal enquiries.

The tribunal, held in Leicester, heard that the employee was working as store assistant and repair technician when matters unfolded in early 2021.