£17,000 for worker called 'weirdo'

A CHILDREN'S centre worker who was called a “weirdo” by a colleague has been paid more than £17,000 after a tribunal judge found the comment violated his dignity.

- By TED HENNESSEY

Nicholas James, who is autistic, complained in 2023 to bosses at The Venture in Wrexham that he could not work properly because of music being played at the premises which he said affected his ability to concentrate, the employment tribunal in Cardiff heard.

Chief officer Malcolm King joked to him in November of that year: “Why can't you be ordinary and perfect like the rest of us? But no, jokes aside, having always been something of a weirdo myself, I have some sympathy.”