Ex-warden will take race case to Europe
Mike Sims
A MARSH community warden who says he was racially abused – because he is Australian – is taking his case to Europe after claiming his human rights were breached by "phone-hacking" council workers.
Former Kent County Council employee Geoff Stephens worked on the Marsh for six years but claimed he was subjected to racist abuse and bullying due to his nationality.
He is now launching the next stage of his case by arguing KCC breached his human rights by allegedly hacking into his phone calls, including one with his doctor.
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He has vowed to take his fight to the European courts after an employment tribunal booted out his claim.
Mr Stephens, 49, who has lived in the UK for 27 years but says he was treated as if he had just stepped off a flight from Sydney, attended the tribunal in Ashford last month.
The Herald revealed in January last year that Mr Stephens planned to sue after the alleged treatment left him on a "cocktail of medication".
Mr Stephens – who worked in Dymchurch and whose brother Rick was a warden in Lydd – claims he was regularly greeted by colleagues with terms such as "G'day sport" and "Is your girlfriend called Sheila?", and that they refused to stop when asked.
He said: "I'm totally disappointed with the tribunal outcome but am really hopeful about Europe. The last few months have been a nightmare and my whole life has been turned upside down.
"I have transcripts which prove they listened to my private conversations, including one with my doctor to see if I was telling the truth about my health.
"I thought strewth, and couldn't believe it when I realised. It's a breach of my human rights under article 8, the right to privacy."
Last year the Herald reported that Mr Stephens believed the comments and behaviour seemed to be "race-inspired" and claimed they were part of a "bigger ugly picture".
He took long-term sick leave from the Community Safety Unit and left KCC's employment last summer.
A spokesman for KCC said: "That claim was struck out on the grounds that it was vexatious. It would be inappropriate for us to comment any further."
When asked about the claims that private telephone conversations had been listened to, the spokesman declined to comment.
Comments
by seasider11
Monday, February 27 2012, 6:52PM
“Oh goody, I hope this goes through, then I can take a claim to the court for discrimination. It's not fair that I have to indicate whether I am male or female on any form. Have you ever met a man called Jennifer? LOL!!”
by GenBourne
Saturday, February 25 2012, 8:02AM
“Since writing my post, I've been a bit bothered that Mr. Stephens doesn't seem to have anyone around him telling him what's what legally (I work in the legal field) and seems to be completely adrift in his ignorance. I agree with the person who posted anonymously in that it's a shame The Herald even published his sorry story. Their only motivation would seem to be to increase sales of their paper -- at the expense of exploiting a man who they know will look like a fool.”
by anon_xx
Friday, February 24 2012, 9:25AM
“Even if he was actually Australian (he's not - he was born in Folkestone) he still wouldn't have a case! Shame on the Herald for covering what is cleary a story about a very vindictive and selfish man trying to extort money out of the tax payers of Kent. For those who don't know -'Vexatious' Definition in Law: (of legal actions) instituted without sufficient grounds and serving only to cause annoyance to the defendant.”
by GenBourne
Friday, February 24 2012, 3:22AM
“Mr. Stephens is under the influence of abject ignorance concerning both racial and national identity. I trust that someone locally will sit down with him and explain that his complaints have nothing to do with him being Caucasian, and that being wished "G'day" isn't generally understood to be insulting in Australia. He really needs to be helped in not making an even bigger fool of himself than he has done so far.”
by markwaghorn
Thursday, February 23 2012, 4:59PM
“Keep taking the pills, cobber!”
by TheRanter
Thursday, February 23 2012, 3:42PM
“If an Employment Tribunal 'booted out his claim' then there really cannot have been a case. I do hope the taxpayer is not funding this litigious nonsense. He may have problems but I cannot see them being caused by what most normal people would call friendly banter. I wonder what Rolf Harris would think - can you see what it is yet?”