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| Mike Baillon: Former police officer wins £440,000 in damages for constructive dismissal after YouTube video of him smashing a Range Rover's window goes viral | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A former police officer who was filmed smashing the driver's window of a Range Rover has won more than £400,000 in damages for constructive dismissal after claiming the viral video forced him out of the force. | A former police officer who was filmed smashing the driver's window of a Range Rover has won more than £400,000 in damages for constructive dismissal after claiming the viral video forced him out of the force. |
| Mike Baillon, a former Gwent PC, claimed he was side lined after the film of him smashing the window of the vehicle which had failed to stop was watched 30million times on YouTube. | Mike Baillon, a former Gwent PC, claimed he was side lined after the film of him smashing the window of the vehicle which had failed to stop was watched 30million times on YouTube. |
| A tribunal hearing heard that the 42-year-old quit his job in August 2012 after being transferred away from front line duties because senior officers believed his “judgement may be impaired”. | A tribunal hearing heard that the 42-year-old quit his job in August 2012 after being transferred away from front line duties because senior officers believed his “judgement may be impaired”. |
| The incident in 2009 was at the end of a 17-minute pursuit after driver Robert Whatley drove off without warning while being questioned by Mr Baillon. | The incident in 2009 was at the end of a 17-minute pursuit after driver Robert Whatley drove off without warning while being questioned by Mr Baillon. |
| Mr Whatley was found guilty of failing to stop, failing to wear a seatbelt and other offences and was fined £235. But he brought a civil claim against Gwent Police which was settled without liability for £65,000 in compensation and costs in 2012. | Mr Whatley was found guilty of failing to stop, failing to wear a seatbelt and other offences and was fined £235. But he brought a civil claim against Gwent Police which was settled without liability for £65,000 in compensation and costs in 2012. |
| Commenting on Mr Baillon's £440,000 award, Mr Whatley told The Daily Mail: “It's totally unreasonable behaviour rewarded by a totally unreasonable pay-out.” | Commenting on Mr Baillon's £440,000 award, Mr Whatley told The Daily Mail: “It's totally unreasonable behaviour rewarded by a totally unreasonable pay-out.” |
| Mr Baillon said his subsequent relocation to a local policing unit after the incident was “punishment” for having “the perceived audacity to write complaints and make protected disclosure to senior officers”. | Mr Baillon said his subsequent relocation to a local policing unit after the incident was “punishment” for having “the perceived audacity to write complaints and make protected disclosure to senior officers”. |
| Mr Baillon, from Torfaen, said the impact of the publicity surrounding the case had caused stress for his family. | Mr Baillon, from Torfaen, said the impact of the publicity surrounding the case had caused stress for his family. |
| “I felt to draw a line under the incident I needed to make the organisation aware of how they dealt with the incident and the effect that had on me and my family,” he said. | “I felt to draw a line under the incident I needed to make the organisation aware of how they dealt with the incident and the effect that had on me and my family,” he said. |
| Referring to Gwent Police, he added: “They've cost me my job and they've cost the taxpayer an awful lot of money. I was highly trained and highly committed, but it counted for nothing in the end.” | Referring to Gwent Police, he added: “They've cost me my job and they've cost the taxpayer an awful lot of money. I was highly trained and highly committed, but it counted for nothing in the end.” |
| A spokesman for Gwent Police said: “Gwent Police defended itself against the claims during the employment tribunal process and is disappointed at the outcome.” | A spokesman for Gwent Police said: “Gwent Police defended itself against the claims during the employment tribunal process and is disappointed at the outcome.” |