Worker awarded £120k for anti-gay discrimina

A Scottish employee has been awarded nearly £120,000 in compensation for harassment and discrimination he suffered as a result of being gay.

Jonah Ditton, 32, from Paisley, worked at Glasgow-based CP Publishing for just eight days before being sacked, during which time he was subjected to bullying, harassment and offensive comments.

A tribunal heard that media sales worker Mr Ditton was left "truly hurt and upset" by his treatment by "high-handed, malicious, insulting and oppressive" bosses at CP Publishing.

He told the court that he was told when he was sacked by phone that he was not "psychologically balanced" and had suffered from depression and alcohol problems as a result of his treatment at the company.

Mr Ditton brought his claim under new Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) regulations, which took effect in December 2004. Gay rights groups have welcomed his victory.

He told the tribunal: "My CV has been destroyed, all my future earnings have been affected. It is going to have a bearing on my future employment. I do not feel my sexuality had any bearing on my ability to do my job."

Company owner Warren Paul was heavily criticised by the tribunal for his behaviour towards Mr Ditton, who "overtly abused and humiliated him on the grounds of his sexual orientation" during the short period he worked for CP Publishing. The Glasgow firm was not represented at the tribunal hearing.

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Date:13/02/2007 09:41:19