A SENIOR fireman was sacked for lobbing a disabled YouTuber’s phone over a hedge at the scene of a fire, a tribunal heard.
John Linden, with 32 years experience, claims he was unfairly dismissed as his PTSD was not taken into account in the decision.
SWNSJohn Linden was caught on camera apparently chucking the phone over a hedge[/caption] SWNSIt belonged to Jimmy Evans, a YouTuber who uses a mobility buggy, and he gave chase[/caption] SWNSLinden was fired for misconduct – but claims it was an unfair dismissal[/caption]Linden, from Dersingham, Norfolk, was caught on camera apparently throwing away the phone of Jimmy Evans – a self-styled journalist who uses an electric wheelchair.
Jimmy turned up to document a blaze in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, in June 2023.
Footage shows Linden marching down a dirt track towards Jimmy – who claims he was about 100m from the fire.
The former Norfolk Fire Service station manager tells Jimmy to move further away – but he insists he is within his rights to stay there.
Linden asks: “You want smoke, and flames?”, to which Jimmy replies: “It doesn’t matter, I’m legally allowed to do it. It’s all publicly accessible.”
After a commotion, Linden strides back down the track, raising his arm and looking towards the hedge – apparently tossing the phone over.
Jimmy can be heard shouting: “Get off my phone, oi! Give me my phone now,” as he climbs out of his chair to give chase.
The spat led to an investigation and a disciplinary hearing – and Linden was fired for misconduct.
But at a tribunal this week he claimed he was was unfairly dismissed – insisting he had been discriminated against on account of his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
He told the hearing he had suffered from the trauma-induced condition after years of physical abuse as a child and experiences during his work as a fireman.
He further claims the fire service failed to make suitable adjustments for him and breached his contract.
Linden claimed his diagnosis led to him reacting in a “heightened manner” towards Jimmy, who has a channel called Wheelz Media, Norwich Magistrates Court heard.
What followed was a “split-second” reaction by Linden, who claims he deflected Jimmy’s swinging arm while still seated in his mobility buggy, resulting in the phone being lost.
Gus Baker, representing Norfolk fire Service, argued Linden’s reaction would have been a “normal” response to the situation, not one affected by his PTSD.
He argued that anyone watching the video would find Mr Linden’s version of events “incredible and incapable of belief.”
Mr Baker said: “You snatched his phone while he was responding to you.”
The video was key to Linden’s dismissal, but he believes the evidence is inconclusive.
Jimmy describes his online blogging company as “auditing done on wheels”.
SWNSJimmy, who runs the Wheelz Media channel, said he was within his rights to be at the scene[/caption] SWNS:South West News ServiceLinden marched down the road to confront Jimmy and tell him to move further away[/caption]The now 46-year-old was on a nearby public footpath and started to film smoke billowing over the path.
He said he was couldn’t find the phone in the undergrowth, and that Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service had since bought him a replacement.
Jimmy said on Thursday: “I don’t feel that his PTSD has anything to do with what happened that day.
“Yes, he may have PTSD from a number of different types of incidents and I agree with that.
“But I don’t think that’s the reason why he kicked off at me.
“I never wanted the guy fired, I just wanted an apology from him.
“All of this was about the fact he took my phone without my consent and threw it into a bush.”
Jimmy added he had previously had a good relationship with the fire service and claimed he had already spoken with another officer at the scene.
However, the tribunal heard that Jimmy, who is not giving evidence at the hearing but said he had requested to, was known to be confrontational before the incident.
The tribunal continues.
SWNSLinden leaving Norwich Magistrates’ Court this week[/caption]Hence then, the article about fire chief sacked after throwing disabled youtuber s phone over hedge at fire he was filming after row was published today ( ) and is available on The Sun ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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