An employee tribunal judge recently ruled in favor of a woman who was terminated from her position at an ambulance trust after her wife assaulted their boss. The judge issued a concise two-word summary of the case while delivering the verdict.
Stacey Smith, a former patient transport worker at the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), was sentenced to 25 years in prison for attempting to kill her and her wife Paula Smith’s boss, Michala Morton, in a hammer attack over a rota dispute. Paula, who was unfairly dismissed by her employers due to her connection with her wife, was arrested on suspicion of harassment and threats against the manager but was later cleared of any charges by the police.
Following her arrest, Paula, who has since separated from Stacey, was let go from her job three weeks after the police investigation was dropped. The trust cited her association with an individual charged with attempted murder as the reason for her dismissal in a letter dated April 25, 2024.
In a recent judgment, the tribunal found that Paula was wrongfully dismissed and is entitled to a £14,000 payout. The judge emphasized that Paula’s only involvement was being married to Stacey and questioned the significance of her arrest in relation to her employment.
Judge Paul Holmes underscored that the public’s knowledge of Paula’s marital connection to the assailant was unlikely to pose any risk or concern. He criticized the trust for overly focusing on Paula’s arrest and bail conditions, which had not received public attention.
In conclusion, the tribunal’s decision highlighted that there was minimal relevance between Paula’s personal life and her professional capabilities, indicating that her dismissal was unjustified.
