Female Firefighter Goes After Boss, Calling Him a ‘Sexual Predator’—You Won’t Believe What Sparked It

A former employee of the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Tayba Amber, filed a series of allegations against her employer, accusing senior staff of harassment, discrimination, and unfair treatment.

As reported by The Daily Mail, her claims stemmed from remarks made by a male superior about her handbag, but a tribunal has ruled that while some of the comments were ill-advised, they did not constitute harassment.

The controversy began during Amber’s return-to-work meeting in August 2022 after months of sick leave due to work-related stress. Martin McCarthy, the fire brigade’s director of corporate services, made remarks about Amber’s Mulberry handbag, drawing comparisons to his wife’s.

Celebrate Trump’s Historic 2024 Victory with the Exclusive Trump 47th President Collection!

‘He said that in the context of her saying she was going to meet up with some friends and go for some retail therapy and, noticing that she had a Mulberry handbag, he made a comment to the effect that his wife had one of those. [His] recollection is that he had asked what she was doing after the meeting and whether she was going to the Mulberry shop. She said he had said he had spent a considerable amount of money on handbags for his wife.’

Amber alleged that McCarthy’s comments and demeanor turned the meeting into a “sexualized freakshow” and labeled him a “sexual predator.”

Amber also took issue with McCarthy discussing his recent divorce and feelings of loneliness during the meeting, claiming his behavior was inappropriate and unprofessional.

However, the tribunal found that McCarthy’s comments, while “unwise” and a “clumsy attempt” at building rapport, were neither sexual harassment nor related to her gender.

Judge David Jones concluded that McCarthy’s remarks about his wife’s shopping habits and his personal life were irrelevant and unnecessary for the meeting. However, they did not amount to conduct of a sexual nature.

“This was a clumsy attempt to gain Ms. Amber’s confidence but fell short of harassment,” the judge stated.

Amber’s broader claims of race discrimination, disability discrimination, and unfair dismissal were also dismissed. However, she succeeded in her claim of victimization, stemming from the actions of another senior official, Ian Brandwood.

The tribunal found that Brandwood had threatened to suspend Amber’s pay if she did not submit a required medical note within three days. Additionally, Brandwood’s email to Amber’s therapist—where he sought advice on “reasonable adjustments” for her return—was deemed unprofessional, as it painted Amber in an unfairly negative light.

Amber filed grievances against both McCarthy and Brandwood, alleging harassment and victimization, but her complaints were not upheld by the fire service. In December 2022, she resigned and subsequently found employment with the NHS before transitioning to a role with West Yorkshire Police.

While Amber’s harassment claims were rejected, the tribunal concluded that she had been victimized through unfair treatment and mishandling of her complaints. A future hearing will determine the compensation she is entitled to receive.