vile shop abus' case stuns village

1
A WOMAN who claims to have en- dured vile sexual taunts and vio- lence at the hands of an ‘adored’ co-worker has been awarded a con- troversial pay-out that has stunned the Aston Clinton community. Lorraine Arnott, a 30-year-old former sales assistant, won £6,550 as compensation for prolonged sex discrimination including sexual harassment that she says drove her to self-harm and mental ill- ness during the 44 weeks that she worked at Premier News conven- ience store in Aston Clinton But the village shop ordered to pay out remains defiant that ‘good Muslim boys’ Imran and Ayaz Hus- sain are not guilty and relied on shining character testimonials from a queue of community mem- bers to refute the claims at the Wat- ford tribunal hearing on April 1. Lorraine started as a part-time employee at the family store in Oc- tober 2009 and resigned in August 2010 shortly after claiming that be- ing forced into an arm-lock by Im- ran was the ‘last straw.’ She said: “It started in January. I was perpetually harassed about my appearance by Imran. At first he said things like ‘you need to lose weight, tone up and get a boob job or you will single for the rest of your life. I am a man, I know these things.’ Then it became a barrage of abuse every day. Once he told me to lift my arms up and said ‘do you realise that we sell women’s razors?’ He even told customers that I was wearing my bedroom curtains to work and that they had been ripped by my cats. “He took my phone and deleted things from it and when I tried to get it back he got me in a tight arm- lock. I subsequently had to have physiotherapy as a direct result of the assault, which was caught on CCTV.” Lorraine began to cut her arms ‘to ribbons’ in February when she claims her plea for help went ig- nored. “I approached Ayaz Hussain, my line manager, on a daily basis about Imran’s behaviour. Instead of listening to my pleas, he grabbed my bum. “Later when I was working alone with him he pointed at my nipples and asked what they were and asked me if I used vibrators. “He was the manager, so I felt trapped but at the same time I could not afford to leave. They are all family and stick together like glue. I turned to self-harming to re- lease the inner pain. I was cutting my arms on broken glass. “I felt utterly degraded and my confidence was severely knocked. I didn’t have the self-confidence to go to the police, I couldn’t deal with it. “It was in July that Imran told me that my face looked a cat’s a**e. I then handed in my resignation.” 150 Quality Used Cars 1 Great Location Bicester Road, Aylesbury 01296 709017 www.perrys.co.uk/aylesbury Group Wayside. The new name for Audi, Volkswagen and Hyundai in Aylesbury. www.waysidegroup.co.uk Bicester Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP19 8AL JONES AND COCKS Now open 8am to 6pm Weekdays 9am to 4pm Saturdays PLUS OPEN DAY Fri 10th June See page 11 10A Bessemer Crescent (off Rabans Lane) Aylesbury 01296 488154 www.jonesandcocks.co.uk Wednesday, June 8, 2011 Established 1832 55p www.bucksherald.co.uk PONTINS FAMILY BREAKS See page 22 for special celebration package WHO WON WHAT IN THE PRIDE IN AYLESBURY AWARDS? FULL REPORT AND PICTURE SPECIAL ON PAGES 14 & 15 > Bees to thrive in the hive... A bee enthusiast is planting three ‘bumble beds’ at railway stations to help boost vulnerable bee populations See story page 12 NEWS: 01296 619764 ADVERTS: 01296 619700 USE THIS LINE TO PROMOTE CLASSIFIED CONTENT OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT NEEDS TO BE GIVEN A PUSH news opinion On right road to smoother travel The new county council leader spells out exactly how road maintenance is going to be tackled in the future Letters, page 20 spoRT Oarsome show from Pamela Weston Turville’s Pamela Relph, 21, who suffered severe arthritis has now won World Cup rowing gold for Great Britain See Sport back page leisuRe Why Walliams kicks up a stink Little Britain star David Walliams interviewed about the musical version of his children’s book Mr Stink, at the Waterside Leisure page 21 Stoke Mandeville, where Michael Munn died Little girl who can’t eat food is fighting fate ‘Vile shop abuse’ case stuns village NHS Trusts voice sorrow over hospital suicide by Kate Dobinson [email protected] 01296 619771 A LITTLe girl with an agonising incurable disease is fighting to be just as normal as her friends, despite not knowing if she has a future as they do. ella Campbell, of Bedgrove, is five years old and has spent her short life coping with an incurable life-threatening condition called eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease. eosinophilic disorders occur when eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, are found in above- normal amounts in various parts of the body. When ella’s body encounters allergens these eosinophils multiply in abnormal amounts and instead of fighting the harmful allergy they do the opposite, causing inflammation and tissue damage instead. If ella eats food, her body violently reacts by causing extreme pain, vomiting and diarrohea. As a result, ella is fed hypoallergenic elemental formulas through a permanent feeding tube in her stomach because it hurts too much for to eat. Mum Karen, says that ella has learnt to be like any other little girl. “She understands everything really well. She’s so brave and take everything in her stride. “She now looks really normal because the tube is under her school dress and people tend to think she is OK and that there’s nothing wrong with her but she is in pain she just doesn’t walk around screaming. At school she can’t do what Lorraine Arnott received £6,550 pay-out for sexual discrimination at a store turn to page 3 > Ordeal made me self-harm, says victim who won £6,550 – but shopkeeper stands by accused staff Former directors charged over £2m MoD fraud allegations TWO former directors of an Aylesbury haulage firm have been charged by Ministry of Defence police with an alleged £2 million fraud. Frederick Baxter, 61, and Gerald Baxter, 34, are accused of defrauding the MoD during their time at the helm of Baxters International Removals Ltd, which is currently based in Brunel Road. Investigators charged the pair with fraudulent trading on Wednesday. The allegations relate to a period between 2002 and 2007, when the company had a contract with the MoD to move equipment. Both men, who no longer work for the firm, are set to appear at City Of London Magistrates Court later this month. A spokesman from the MoD police told the Herald: “We can confirm that the MoD police on June 1, 2011, charged two men with fraudulent trading. “The charges relate to allegations that they defrauded the MoD of approximately £2 million between July 2002 and January 2007. “They are currently on bail to appear before City of London Magistrates Court on Thursday, June 16.” Investigators claim that the government department was overcharged by the company. BUCKS health trusts have offered their condolences to the family of Michael Munn who died after jumping from scaffolding at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. An inquest in High Wycombe found that the 45-year-old took his own life by jumping from Ward Nine on October 25 last year. A post mortem carried out at the time revealed he died as a result of multiple injuries. The coroner found that nobody was at fault for Mr Munn’s death. A spokesman for Bucks Healthcare NHS Trust said: “The Trust expresses its sincere condolences to the family of Mr Munn. We undertook our own internal investigation following the incident and our findings helped us to put together an action plan. “The Trust already has policies and procedures in place for patients with mental health conditions and continues to work with Oxford Health to ensure the safety of these patients.” Mr Munn had been admitted to hospital and undergone a psychiatric assessment after attempting suicide by cutting his wrists. A spokesman for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, which is responsible for patients in Bucks, said: “We take all incidents very seriously and each case is fully investigated by the Trust. This ensures that any learning can be implemented to maintain standards and high levels of patient care. We send our sincerest sympathies to the family of Mr Munn.” by David Moth [email protected] 01296 619762 TEL: 01844 343783 www.spruced-up.co.uk* Full Garden Design Service All Projects Undertaken Operated Digger Hire Tree Felling & Pruning Fencing & Gates Patios & Driveways Decks, Ponds & More... Complete Landscaping Spruced-Up Why not enquire about our garden spruce-up’s They make lovely presents Free Initial Survey* Courageous: Ella with brother Adam > continued on page 2 A SPEC-TACULAR COMPETITION FOR FATHER’S DAY! Turn to page 8 Super hanging baskets and seeds reader offer: See page 10

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Page 1: Vile Shop Abus' case stuns village

A WOMAN who claims to have en-dured vile sexual taunts and vio-lence at the hands of an ‘adored’co-worker has been awarded a con-troversial pay-out that has stunnedthe Aston Clinton community.

Lorraine Arnott, a 30-year-oldformer sales assistant, won £6,550as compensation for prolonged sexdiscrimination including sexualharassment that she says droveher to self-harm and mental ill-ness during the 44 weeks that sheworked at Premier News conven-ience store in Aston Clinton

But the village shop ordered topay out remains defiant that ‘goodMuslim boys’ Imran and Ayaz Hus-sain are not guilty and relied onshining character testimonialsfrom a queue of community mem-bers to refute the claims at the Wat-ford tribunal hearing on April 1.

Lorraine started as a part-timeemployee at the family store in Oc-tober 2009 and resigned in August2010 shortly after claiming that be-ing forced into an arm-lock by Im-ran was the ‘last straw.’

She said: “It started in January.I was perpetually harassed aboutmy appearance by Imran. At firsthe said things like ‘you need tolose weight, tone up and get a boobjob or you will single for the rest ofyour life. I am a man, I know thesethings.’ Then it became a barrage

of abuse every day. Once he toldme to lift my arms up and said ‘doyou realise that we sell women’srazors?’ He even told customers

that I was wearing my bedroomcurtains to work and that they hadbeen ripped by my cats.

“He took my phone and deleted

things from it and when I tried toget it back he got me in a tight arm-lock. I subsequently had to havephysiotherapy as a direct result ofthe assault, which was caught onCCTV.”

Lorraine began to cut her arms‘to ribbons’ in February when sheclaims her plea for help went ig-nored.

“I approached Ayaz Hussain,my line manager, on a daily basisabout Imran’s behaviour. Insteadof listening to my pleas, he grabbedmy bum.

“Later when I was working alonewith him he pointed at my nipplesand asked what they were andasked me if I used vibrators.

“He was the manager, so I felttrapped but at the same time Icould not afford to leave. They areall family and stick together likeglue. I turned to self-harming to re-lease the inner pain. I was cuttingmy arms on broken glass.

“I felt utterly degraded and myconfidence was severely knocked.I didn’t have the self-confidenceto go to the police, I couldn’t dealwith it.

“It was in July that Imran toldme that my face looked a cat’s a**e.I then handed in my resignation.”

150 Quality Used Cars1 Great Location

Bicester Road, Aylesbury

01296 709017www.perrys.co.uk/aylesbury Group

Wayside.The new name for Audi,Volkswagen and Hyundaiin Aylesbury.

www.waysidegroup.co.ukBicester Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP19 8AL

JONESAND

COCKSNow open

8am to 6pm Weekdays

9am to 4pm Saturdays

PLUSOPEN DAY

Fri 10th JuneSee page 11

10A BessemerCrescent

(off Rabans Lane)Aylesbury

01296 488154www.jonesandcocks.co.uk

Wednesday, June 8, 2011 Established 1832 55p www.bucksherald.co.uk

PONTINSFAMILYBREAKSSee page 22 for special

celebration package

WHO WON WHAT IN THE PRIDE IN AYLESBURY AWARDS? FULL REPORT AND PICTURE SPECIAL ON PAGES 14 & 15 >

Bees to thrivein the hive...

A bee enthusiast is plantingthree ‘bumble beds’ at railwaystations to help boost vulnerablebee populations

See story page 12

NEWS: 01296 619764ADVERTS: 01296 619700

USE THIS LINE TO PROMOTE CLASSIFIED CONTENT OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT NEEDS TO BE GIVEN A PUSH

news

opinionOn right road tosmoother travel

The new county councilleader spells out exactly howroad maintenance is going to betackled in the future

Letters, page 20

spoRTOarsome showfrom Pamela

Weston Turville’s Pamela Relph,21, who suffered severe arthritishas now wonWorld Cup rowinggold for Great Britain

See Sport back page

leisuRe

WhyWalliamskicks up a stink

Little Britain star DavidWalliams interviewed about themusical version of his children’sbook Mr Stink, at theWaterside

Leisure page 21

Stoke Mandeville, whereMichael Munn died

Little girl whocan’t eat foodis fighting fate

‘Vile shop abuse’case stuns village

NHS Trusts voice sorrow over hospital suicide

by Kate [email protected]

01296 619771

A LITTLe girl with an agonisingincurable disease is fighting tobe just as normal as her friends,despite not knowing if she has afuture as they do.

ella Campbell, of Bedgrove, isfive years old and has spent hershort life coping with an incurablelife-threatening condition calledeosinophilic gastrointestinaldisease.

eosinophilic disorders occurwhen eosinophils, a type of whiteblood cell, are found in above-normal amounts in various partsof the body.

When ella’s body encountersallergens these eosinophilsmultiply in abnormal amountsand instead of fighting theharmful allergy they do theopposite, causing inflammationand tissue damage instead.

If ella eats food, her bodyviolently reacts by causingextreme pain, vomiting anddiarrohea.

As a result, ella is fedhypoallergenic elementalformulas through a permanentfeeding tube in her stomachbecause it hurts too much for toeat.

Mum Karen, says that ella haslearnt to be like any other littlegirl. “She understands everythingreally well. She’s so brave and takeeverything in her stride.

“She now looks really normalbecause the tube is under herschool dress and people tend tothink she is OK and that there’snothing wrong with her but sheis in pain she just doesn’t walkaround screaming.

At school she can’t do what

Lorraine Arnott received £6,550 pay-out for sexual discrimination at a store

turn to page 3 >

Ordeal made me self-harm, says victim who won£6,550 – but shopkeeper stands by accused staff

Former directors charged over £2mMoD fraud allegationsTWO former directors of an Aylesburyhaulage firm have been charged byMinistry of Defence police with analleged £2 million fraud.

Frederick Baxter, 61, and GeraldBaxter, 34, are accused of defraudingthe MoD during their time at thehelm of Baxters InternationalRemovals Ltd, which is currently

based in Brunel Road.Investigators charged the pair with

fraudulent trading on Wednesday.The allegations relate to a period

between 2002 and 2007, when thecompany had a contract with theMoD to move equipment.

Both men, who no longer work forthe firm, are set to appear at City Of

London Magistrates Court later thismonth.

A spokesman from the MoD policetold the Herald: “We can confirmthat the MoD police on June 1, 2011,charged two men with fraudulenttrading.

“The charges relate to allegationsthat they defrauded the MoD of

approximately £2 million betweenJuly 2002 and January 2007.

“They are currently on bail toappear before City of LondonMagistrates Court on Thursday, June16.”

Investigators claim that thegovernment department wasovercharged by the company.

BUCKS health trusts have offeredtheir condolences to the familyof Michael Munn who died afterjumping from scaffolding at StokeMandeville Hospital.

An inquest in High Wycombefound that the 45-year-old took hisown life by jumping from WardNine on October 25 last year. Apost mortem carried out at thetime revealed he died as a result ofmultiple injuries.

The coroner found that nobodywas at fault for Mr Munn’s death.

A spokesman for Bucks HealthcareNHS Trust said: “The Trustexpresses its sincere condolencesto the family of Mr Munn. Weundertook our own internal

investigation following the incidentand our findings helped us to puttogether an action plan.

“The Trust already has policiesand procedures in place for patientswith mental health conditions andcontinues to work with OxfordHealth to ensure the safety of thesepatients.”

Mr Munn had been admitted tohospital and undergone a psychiatricassessment after attempting suicide

by cutting his wrists.A spokesman for Oxford Health

NHS Foundation Trust, which isresponsible for patients in Bucks,said: “We take all incidents veryseriously and each case is fullyinvestigated by the Trust. Thisensures that any learning can beimplemented to maintain standardsand high levels of patient care. Wesend our sincerest sympathies to thefamily of Mr Munn.”

by David [email protected]

01296 619762

TEL: 01844 343783www.spruced-up.co.uk*

Full Garden Design ServiceAll Projects Undertaken

Operated Digger HireTree Felling & Pruning

Fencing & GatesPatios & Driveways

Decks, Ponds& More...

Complete LandscapingSpruced-Up

Why not enquire aboutour garden spruce-up’s

They make lovely presentsFree Initial Survey*

Courageous: Ella with brother Adam

> continued on page 2

A SPEC-TACULARCOMPETITION FORFATHER’S DAY! Turn to

page 8

Superhangingbasketsand seedsreader

offer: Seepage 10