Dyslexic police officer awarded £25,000 for forced resignation

A dyslexic police officer who was branded “lazy” has won £25,000 compensation after being forced to resign because of his disability.

Owen Brooking claimed Essex Police left him no option but to leave after he was repeatedly ordered to re-do paperwork and superior officers bullied him and accused him of laziness.

An employment tribunal awarded the former police officer £20,000 for injured feelings, plus £5,125 for loss of earnings.

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Judge Julia Jones said Brooking had suffered “personal and sustained” bullying while working at South Woodham Ferrers police station. “It was a period of repeated acts of discrimination with the purpose and intention to get him to resign,” she added.

Assistant chief constable Derek Benson of Essex Police said: “Essex Police is disappointed with the outcome of this case and will give careful consideration to the tribunal’s findings.”