A hero firefighter is suing his former fire service after being disciplined for not preventing his staff from saying the term ‘fireman’.
Simon Bailey, 58, who was previously praised for his bravery, was said to have been handed a warning and downgraded after using the ‘sexist’ word.
The ex-Avon Fire and Rescue Service firefighter said he felt dismayed and physically unwell after receiving the disciplinary letter.
Recalling how his ‘world came crashing down’, he revealed the ordeal has left him a shell of his former self.
He told The Sun: ‘When I received the disciplinary letter, I felt physically sick and devastated. I became a shell of myself.
‘This is not how I wanted my 27 years of service to end. I don’t tend to tell people I used to be a firefighter as I almost feel embarrassed because of the way I was treated.
‘I have a letter of commendation from the chief, congratulating me on my service, but it’s just left in a drawer now.’
Now, he has taken his former station to an employment tribunal on the grounds of constructive dismissal.
Barrister, Adam Griffiths, representing Mr Bailey, questioned assistant fire chief Luke Gazzard, who led the disciplinary investigation, about the use of the term ‘fireman’.
At a hearing in Bristol, he challenged Mr Gazzard on holding an employee to such a standard about a word that has been used for ‘the last 150 years’.
He went on to suggest there would ‘obviously’ be a formal letter or a directive to enforce such standards.
The disciplinary probe came after a female firefighter Sasha Acheson claimed she experienced sexual harassment, discrimination and victimisation at the same station.
The former England rugby player won the sex discrimination and constructive dismissal case on the grounds of sexual orientation.
Later, it was concluded a crew manager had made offensive comments to the firefighter, who is gay, and in a separate case, she is set to win compensation totaling to over £50,000.
Representing Avon Fire and Rescue Service, barrister Emma Sole, contested Mr Bailey, their boss, did not answer a ‘serious grievance’.
The watch manager’s claim is set to be decided at a later date.
