Firefighter hero demoted for using word 'fireman'

An incredibly stupid (pardon the crude word) story happened to a British firefighter hero. Simon Bailey sued the fire service after he was disciplined for not stopping his staff from saying the word "firefighter". He claimed the word was "sexist".

Simon Bailey, 58, who had previously been praised for his bravery, was reportedly given a warning and demoted after using a "sexist" word.

A former Avon Fire and Rescue Service officer has said he was left feeling depressed and physically unwell after receiving a disciplinary letter.

Recalling how his "world collapsed," he admitted that after the ordeal he had gone through, only a shadow of his former self remained.

He told The Sun that he didn't want his 27 years of service to end this way. He doesn't even like to tell people he was a firefighter because "I feel a bit ashamed of the way I was treated."

Now the man has taken his former employer to the labour court to clarify the absurd situation.

Barrister Adam Griffiths, acting for Simon Bailey, questioned assistant chief fire officer Luke Gazzard, who led the disciplinary investigation.

At a hearing in Bristol, he challenged Gazzard for holding an employee to such high standards for a word that has been used "for the last 150 years".

A disciplinary investigation was launched after firefighter Sasha Acheson alleged she was sexually harassed, discriminated against and stalked at the same station.

Acheson is to receive more than £50,000 in compensation after it emerged her team leader made offensive comments about her.

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