c2c ticket office worker's dismissal was 'reasonable', says judge

The claimant worked at Tilbury Town railway station, where the incident took place

A ticket office worker who "lashed out" at a teenager had an unfair dismissal claim thrown out.

The employee, named only as Mr O Johnson, worked for south Essex rail operator c2c at Tilbury Town station.

Tribunal documents stated the ticket office assistant "swiped with his open hand as if to slap" the youngster after they interfered with his counter.

Employment Judge Laura Howden-Evans concluded c2c acted "reasonably" in firing Mr Johnson in August 2022.

A report stated the incident was witnessed by security guards at the railway station and captured on CCTV in May that year.

"It was an unprovoked attack which could have caused the boy whose age was about 14 serious harm. Please ask c2c to look into this as it's a very serious matter," an email from one of the guards to his employer read.

South Essex rail operator c2c dismissed Mr Johnson in August 2022

The tribunal documents said the teenager had been playing with the turntable on the counter and the card machine before Mr Johnson "waves him away".

The claimant then left the ticket office and "forcefully lashed out" at the teenager who was on the other side of the ticket barrier, but did not make contact.

Mr Johnson also claimed he had been "subjected to race discrimination" by the security guards who reported him.

But the tribunal panel found they "would have responded to someone who was not a black African person in exactly the same way as they responded" to Mr Johnson.

'Lost control'

Judge Howden-Evans threw out the claimant's case and stated c2c made a "reasonable" decision.

She said it was "difficult to see what alternative outcome was realistically available" to the rail operator.

"It is sad that the claimant, who appears to be a diligent and conscientious employee, lost a job he loved because he lost control of himself during a stressful moment," the judge added.

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