A London plumber who was assaulted following a dispute over a defective radiator has been awarded up to £200,000 in compensation after successfully suing his employers. Thomas Browne, a 32-year-old heating engineer, had his right hand crushed in a door and was punched twice in the head by the son of a council tenant in Bryony Road, Hammersmith, in March 2020.
Background of the Incident
The attack occurred when Mr Browne attended the property to conduct a radiator survey. It was the seventh engineers' appointment at the residence in just four months, highlighting ongoing issues with the central heating system. The tenant's son had become increasingly frustrated and angry over the lack of progress in resolving the problem.
According to Mr Browne's barrister, Helen Nugent, the plumber was verbally abused, punched twice, and had his dominant hand crushed when the door was forcefully slammed shut. Colleagues had previously reported aggressive language and threats from the same individual, but these incidents were not properly logged by the employer.
Court Ruling
Judge Lawrence Cohen KC ruled in favour of Mr Browne after a four-day trial at Central London County Court. He criticised K&T Heating Services, the employer, for their “sloppy” system of reporting and documenting incidents. The judge concluded that the risk of harm was reasonably foreseeable, given that Mr Browne was a lone frontline worker engaging directly with members of the public in their homes.
“I have made findings about the thoroughly unsatisfactory and sloppy system of K&T Heating when reporting and documenting incidents,” the judge stated. “I have no hesitation in accepting that the line manager was told as alleged by these witnesses, and the failure of K&T Heating was systemic.”
Details of the Assault
During the incident, Mr Browne attempted to placate the resident's son but called a colleague for advice, who urged him to leave immediately. As he gathered his tools and headed for the door, the resident blocked his exit, demanding he complete the job. The resident then punched Mr Browne twice in the head and crushed his hand in the door. Mr Browne managed to open the door and escape.
After returning home, the traumatised plumber was left shaking and violently sick. He suffered nerve damage to his hand and psychological trauma as a result of the attack.
Liability and Compensation
The liability ruling was made against both K&T Heating Services and Morgan Sindall Property Services Ltd, to whom Mr Browne transferred in June 2020. Hammersmith and Fulham Council were cleared of liability, as the judge determined that any failures by council officers to log past violent incidents were not connected to the assault.
The amount of compensation will be decided at a future hearing unless an agreement is reached, with Mr Browne's claim valued at up to £200,000. The case underscores the importance of employers safeguarding lone workers and maintaining robust incident reporting systems.
