Saleswoman Admits Forging Cancer Treatment Notes and Police Evidence in Tribunal Cases
A saleswoman who fabricated a doctor's note about cancer treatment and lied about being sexually harassed at work is now facing a potential prison sentence. Louise Gallagher, aged 50, falsified emails purportedly from the Metropolitan Police and made untrue assertions that Transport for London (TfL) possessed CCTV footage to substantiate her allegations of sexual assault. These deceptive actions occurred during two separate employment tribunal cases against her former employers, both of which were ultimately dismissed.
False Claims and Fabricated Evidence Unravel in Court
Gallagher was observed outside Wood Green Court in London, smoking a cigarette, after she entered guilty pleas to three counts of perverting the course of justice. She is scheduled for sentencing on May 19, with such charges frequently resulting in custodial sentences and carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Additionally, two further allegations of perverting the course of justice, connected to her disputed sexual assault claims, are set to remain on file without further action.
Her legal troubles began when she initiated a sex discrimination lawsuit against distribution giant Bunzl after departing the company in 2018. Subsequently, she filed an unfair dismissal claim against health product supplier Essity following her exit in 2023. In both instances, Gallagher alleged that she had been subjected to sexual harassment, presenting strikingly similar narratives that were later debunked.
Deceptive Tactics Exposed During Tribunal Proceedings
While pursuing her case against Bunzl in 2020 and 2021, Gallagher falsely claimed that TfL had CCTV evidence supporting her sexual assault allegation. As her case began to collapse, she produced a fraudulent doctor's note requesting a two-year adjournment, citing the need for breast cancer treatment. The note, which appeared handwritten, stated that Gallagher was critically ill with cancer that had metastasized, requiring extensive treatment and making immediate legal proceedings impossible.
However, when the authenticity of this document was challenged, the referenced doctor—a prominent consultant in cancer care—categorically denied authoring it, humorously remarking that while her handwriting was poor, it was not that deficient. Consequently, the tribunal dismissed Gallagher's claim and ordered her to pay £8,000 in legal costs to Bunzl.
Further Fabrications in Second Employment Tribunal
In her subsequent case against Essity in 2022 and 2023, Gallagher admitted to manufacturing emails from the Metropolitan Police, falsely indicating an eyewitness to a sexual assault. She asserted that the sexual assault had occurred and was under review by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), attaching a fabricated witness email as evidence. The police confirmed that their investigation into her complaint had not progressed and that the supporting evidence was counterfeit.
Employment judges in both tribunals concluded that Gallagher had a propensity for dishonesty, knowingly misleading the courts with forged documents and false testimony. Judge Rebecca Eeley noted her tendency to lie for advantage, while Judge Paul Daniels described her evidence as vague, evasive, and based on unsubstantiated assertions.
Sentencing and Psychiatric Assessment Pending
Although it was acknowledged that Gallagher underwent legitimate breast cancer treatment between November 2020 and January 2021, this did not excuse her fraudulent actions. Gallagher, residing in Marlborough, Wiltshire, initially pleaded not guilty to the perverting justice charges in October 2024 but changed her plea to guilty recently. Released on bail, she will undergo a psychiatric evaluation prior to her sentencing hearing, where the court will determine the appropriate punishment for her serious misconduct.
