Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Bullying and harassmentEmployment lawEquality, diversity and inclusionEmployment tribunals

Hampshire firefighters took bets on who would sleep with female colleague, tribunal told

by Personnel Today 23 Apr 2010
by Personnel Today 23 Apr 2010

Male firefighters at Hampshire Fire and Rescue station took bets on who would be the first to sleep with a woman to join the crew, it has been alleged at tribunal.

Kate Ellis, 40, is claiming sexual discrimination and unfair dismissal after being forced to resign in 2008 as a result of alleged bullying, the Telegraph has reported.

She said she slept with station manager Mark Butler to end the harassment and “calm the situation”, the tribunal heard.

She told the tribunal that Butler said she could not do her job or drive the fire engine at the station in Kingsclere.

“Mark Butler said he could never totally rely on a female firefighter,” she said. “He said if I was in the crew he would count it as five plus one. He said I would give up too easily.”

Butler allegedly made remarks about other female firefighters. He is claimed to have said: “She’s fit. I wouldn’t mind getting into that fire kit,” and of another female firefighter, he allegedly said: “How could that do the job?”

Ellis’ husband Joe, also at the tribunal, claimed he had overheard a conversation in the pub between Butler and another male firefighter, during which they were said to be discussing there was “potential totty” joining the station.

“They said they did not want any females messing up their station and they would only cause trouble. However, they said the upside would be they would see who would get to f*** her. They also mentioned opening a book on who would do it first,” he said.

Butler was suspended from the station after Ellis launched a grievance procedure in 2006, but no formal disciplinary proceedings were launched against him – a decision that was upheld at an appeal sought by Ellis.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

No formal disciplinary proceedings were launched against Butler, and an appeal against that decision by Ellis was dismissed, the tribunal was told.

The hearing continues.

Personnel Today

previous post
Election TV debate puts immigration and pension funds centre stage
next post
Creative Metier goes global with contract for Women’s World Banking

You may also like

House of Lords votes against day-one dismissal rights

18 Jul 2025

Zero-hours employees may have to request guaranteed hours

17 Jul 2025

Trans row nurse cleared of misconduct as tribunal...

16 Jul 2025

Hugh’s Law calls for paid leave for parents...

16 Jul 2025

Beware the unintended consequences of the NDA ban

16 Jul 2025

Manager dismissed after covert recording with HR wins...

14 Jul 2025

Gregg Wallace investigation: 45 allegations upheld

14 Jul 2025

Gregg Wallace case: don’t be too hasty to...

11 Jul 2025

Ministers loosen fire and rehire proposals in Employment...

10 Jul 2025

£188k tribunal award for director sacked after cardiac...

10 Jul 2025

  • Empower and engage for the future: A revolution in talent development (webinar) WEBINAR | As organisations strive...Read more
  • Empowering working parents and productivity during the summer holidays SPONSORED | Businesses play a...Read more
  • AI is here. Your workforce should be ready. SPONSORED | From content creation...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+