'Swimming to UK' | Worker sacking over controversial 'Syrian refugee' WhatsApp joke ruled unfair

A Home Office worker accused of making a joke about refugees swimming to the UK has been ruled unfairly dismissed by an employment tribunal.

David Maynard was fired by Government contractor Mitie for comments made in a WhatsApp group with other staff members.

Maynard, an asylum seeker escort, faced allegations of joking about “Syrian refugees swimming to the UK” when accusations of racism within the group chat surfaced in February 2022.

The group included 80 Mitie escorts, prompting Mitie’s chief executive, Phil Bentley, to publicly condemn racist behaviour.

Following an investigation, Maynard and his colleague John Lehan were both dismissed by Mitie.