Fire Chief Awarded £4,000 After Tribunal Rules Dismissal Unfair
A fire chief has won a £4,000 payout after an employment tribunal found he was unfairly sacked for hurling a disabled YouTuber's phone over a hedge during an altercation at a fire scene. John Linden, 53, was dismissed from Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service following the incident in June 2023, ending his 32-year career.
Altercation with YouTuber Leads to Dismissal
The tribunal heard that Mr Linden, then station manager at King's Lynn fire station, was attempting to move blogger Jimmy Evans away from a fire scene when Mr Evans became "aggressive and obstructive" while filming for his Wheelz Media channel. Mr Evans, who uses a mobility scooter, pushed his phone into Mr Linden's face, prompting the firefighter to grab the device and throw it over a nearby hedge.
Mr Evans, who is disabled, uploaded footage of the incident online and complained to the fire service. An internal investigation led by Peter Rowe resulted in Mr Linden's dismissal for gross misconduct in August 2023.
Tribunal Finds Multiple Procedural Failures
Employment Judge Andrew Spencer ruled the dismissal was unfair due to significant procedural failures during the investigation. The judge noted that investigators were directed not to interview potential witnesses from the fire crew and failed to request the full footage from Mr Evans, which might have shown the YouTuber in a less favorable light.
"This was inappropriate - it amounted to a clear instruction not to interview potential witnesses," Judge Spencer said regarding the email from the chief fire officer. "The investigation needed to be more rigorous for a potentially career-ending decision."
Impact on Fire Chief's Life and Career
Speaking after the tribunal, Mr Linden said he had lost "more than a job" and developed PTSD from the ordeal. "I had worked very hard throughout my career. I ended up having PTSD and I have faced a lot of aggressive people," he said. "It has affected me, it has affected my family. I don't think I have had a good night's sleep in two years really."
Mr Linden noted that fire officers receive no training in dealing with "difficult people" and described the incident as having a "profound effect" that "shook him up." He also revealed that Mr Evans had threatened a colleague previously and was known to the fire department as "challenging and abusive."
YouTuber's Response and Broader Context
Mr Evans responded to the tribunal outcome by saying, "I know everyone is blaming me for him losing his job. But he made his mind up to take my phone and if you watch the video you will see the phone go over the edge." The fire service had compensated Mr Evans £300 for his lost phone before the investigation.
Judge Spencer highlighted the broader context of emergency workers facing "self-proclaimed social media 'auditors'" who film them aggressively to generate online content. "Some aim to generate online content by behaving aggressively and obstructively, seeking to capture negative responses with a view to posting this online," he said.
Compensation and Future Proceedings
The tribunal awarded Mr Linden £3,938 for unfair dismissal, though he lost claims for disability discrimination, failure to make accommodations, and breach of contract. A further compensation amount remains undetermined and will be settled in future proceedings.
This case underscores the challenges emergency services face with social media interactions and the importance of thorough investigative procedures in employment decisions.
