Prison chaplain settles 'brutality' claim

Inmates were told to "make up sexual abuse" claims

A prison chaplain who put up with three years of "living in fear" at a Dorset jail has settled his claim for constructive dismissal.

Reverend Peter Tullett withdrew his application for compensation, although the terms of agreement he reached with the Prison Service are confidential.

Mr Tullett had worked at Portland Young Offenders' Institution since 1996, and alleged brutality among some of the officers.

The 55-year-old, of Cleobury Mortimer, near Kidderminster, Worcestershire claimed he was "bullied and harassed" at the jail.

I believe the hostility shown towards me by prison officers was directly linked to the fact that I raised concerns into the alleged abuse

Reverend Peter Tullett

He also said officers had tried to discredit him by urging inmates to claim he had sexually abused them.

In a written statement to the tribunal, Mr Tullett said he had "withdrawn the case".

After the hearing, he said: "I am happy with the settlement, but I cannot reveal any details."

Mr Tullett was removed from his position at Portland for his own safety last year, after a statement he made to police became public.

Mr Tullett said he suffered a "huge amount of stress, vulnerability and isolation."

He said matters got worse after he voiced worries about abuse in the institution to the governor.

"I believe the hostility shown towards me by prison officers was directly linked to the fact that I raised concerns into the alleged abuse of inmates by certain prison officers," he told the tribunal.

In August 1999 Mr Tullett interviewed an inmate who had been heard screaming at night.

Mr Tullett said: "It appeared he had been subjected to inappropriate physical action.

'Verbal abuse'

"I immediately went to the governor to report my concerns and advised him the inmate was prepared to make a statement but was frightened to do so if it went via officers' hands."

Mr Tullett complained that the prison officer involved in the incident was told of the allegation and became abusive towards him.

He added: "I was also the victim of continued hostility, intimidation and verbal abuse from a certain group of prison officers.

"An inmate told me a prison officer had asked him to allege that I had been touching him up."

In September 2000 Mr Tullett was signed off work with back pain.

Anti-depressants

He later went to a doctor and was signed off for a further 11 weeks suffering from stress, depression and anxiety and was prescribed anti-depressants.

When he returned to work in December he made a 19-page statement to police concerning the allegations of abuse.

In his statement he said that two months later he was put on special leave, after police described his position as "untenable."

Mr Tullett said he was then offered the deputy chaplain's job at Bristol prison, which he considered to be demotion.

He said he has not worked since and the experience at Portland had left him "lacking in confidence and feeling unable to cope."