Female firefighter wins sex harassment case after male colleagues took ‘scenic route’ back to station to ogle women
MALE firefighters would take the “scenic route” back to their station after call-outs so they could ogle women, a tribunal heard.
They referred to the seafront diversion as a “f***y run” — or “d**k” run, for inclusivity purposes” if a female firefighter was part of the crew.
The instances of casual sexism emerged as firefighter Julie Wilkinson won her sexual harassment case.
When she joined Cleveland Fire Authority in 2009, she was told “what happens in the mess stays in the mess”.
In 2021, she was the only woman on Blue Watch in Redcar near Middlesbrough.
Her male colleagues used WhatsApp groups to post sexualised images and jokes.
She also told the tribunal that on one occasion, as the crew waited for a takeaway on the way back from a job, watch manager David Colman, and firefighters Graham Kirk and Paul Froom, made sexual comments about passing women.
Ms Wilkinson also told the panel she had been “subjected to bullying, aggression and humiliation”.
And she told them: “(I was) forced to go on ‘f***y runs’ while male firefighters ogled women on nights out and discussed whether or not they would ‘do her’.”
The male colleagues denied the claims and said taking the “scenic route” allowed children to wave at the fire engine.
The tribunal disagreed and ruled the behaviour of Colman, Kirk and Froom was “intimidating, hostile, humiliating or offensive”.
Compensation will be decided at a later date.