Compensation for abused wheelchair user

A wheelchair user who was nicknamed 'Ironside' by a Burnley factory boss has won £6,000 compensation.

Brian Davies took his manager Steve Wellens to an industrial tribunal after overhearing him referring to his condition flippantly, comparing Mr Davies to the famous 70s TV detective Robert T Ironside.

Shop steward Mr Davies, who was born with brittle bones and has used a wheelchair all his life, said the jibe was "derogatory".

"The manager got upset about something, so he decided to call me Ironside, and that stuck," said Mr Davies. "I pleaded with the company to sort this out but they backed him up.

"I didn't want to have to go to court and have everyone knowing my business."

The tribunal in Manchester heard that while Mr Wellens was disciplined for repeatedly using the name, Mr Davies was still upset and lodged his claim.

He has been awarded a £6,000 payout for his claim after a panel ruled his dignity was 'violated' by the attitude of bosses.

"It was never about the money. I've given the bulk of it away to charity," Mr Davies added.

"But it was down to me to keep my dignity and not be slagged off behind my back. I was not born in a wheelchair - even though I will have to use one for the rest of my life. This is the 21st Century and adults don't go around calling each other silly and derogatory nicknames like that."

Awarding compensation, Judge John Sherratt said: 'We find that his dignity was violated.

"If someone uses what might be considered offensive language it does not mean that the person cannot reasonably be offended by remarks relating to him and his disability."