A security guard allegedly attacked a receptionist after their banter escalated. The receptionist has now been awarded over £19,000 in compensation for the incident.
South London: A wild incident unfolded at a hospital. A security guard nearly strangled a receptionist after their playful banter took a nasty turn.
The receptionist, Ben Murphy, was awarded over £19,000 in compensation. He claimed he feared for his life during the altercation back in July 2021.
It all started with some teasing. The guard called Murphy ‘fat,’ and he shot back with ‘bald.’ But things escalated quickly when Murphy made a comment about the guard’s mom.
That’s when the guard lost it. He grabbed Murphy by the throat, almost choking him. In self-defense, Murphy managed to get the guard in a headlock and threw some punches.
Other security staff had to step in to break up the fight. The guard was fired by his contractor, CIS Security, while Murphy faced suspension from the NHS Trust.
After a disciplinary hearing, Murphy received a written warning for misconduct. He felt it was unfair since he was just defending himself.
In his resignation letter, he expressed his fear and frustration. He felt the trust didn’t treat him like a victim of violence.
Murphy later filed a case against the NHS Trust for unfair dismissal and other claims. He won on the health and safety front but lost the rest.
The judge noted that the trust didn’t consider Murphy was acting in self-defense. They also failed to support him during his suspension, which was a serious oversight.
In a follow-up hearing, Murphy was awarded over £4,300 for lost earnings and £15,000 for emotional distress. The NHS Trust accepted the tribunal’s decision without further comment.
