Damages delay for RAF woman

A former RAF police officer who was victimised by a senior colleague must wait to find out how much compensation she will receive.

An employment tribunal in Birmingham had been due to decide the level of damages to be awarded to Catherine Brumfitt on Thursday.

The case was not heard, after both the claimant and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) asked for it be postponed pending an appeal.

Alan McCarry, chair of the panel, dismissed requests the compensation hearing should take place after the appeal, although he did postpone the case to give time for all the relevant documents to be prepared.

Sex discrimination

The two-day damages hearing will now take place on 15 and 16 April next year.

The tribunal found partly in favour of Mrs Brumfitt, from Albrighton, Shropshire, last month.

She claimed she had been targeted after making a complaint about foul language and lewd comments used at a training session at RAF Cosford.

The mother-of-two objected to remarks made by Sergeant John Fitzpatrick during the compulsory one-day course in February 2001, which was aimed at teaching officers how to deal with sex attacks.

The panel found the MoD and Sergeant Fitzpatrick had victimised Mrs Brumfitt contrary to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.

But it dismissed other claims she made, causing Mrs Brumfitt to lodge her appeal.