Biscuit company boss sacked for slapping Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten's bum at awards bash after she ‘gave him permission'

The Sun

01-05-2025

A BISCUIT company boss was sacked for slapping Emmerdale actress Gemma Oaten's bum at an awards bash, a tribunal heard.
Steve Jones claimed the 40-year-old had given him permission for the on-stage slap.
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But a colleague who later saw a video of the incident said it had upset her and referred to the #metoo movement.
Jones, who was head of health and safety at McVitie's owner Pladis, was then fired for 'violating morality and decency'.
An employment tribunal was told that the incident happened as he volunteered to go on stage to accept a gong won by the company.
It was being presented by an actress — not identified at the hearing — and Jones stood next to her and slapped her bottom.
The tribunal heard that although Jones had not asked for consent, he told her he had slapped another 'well-known woman's' bum on stage, so the actress said 'go for it'.
Hundreds of people had attended the International Safety Awards — organised by the British Safety Council — which took place at the InterContinental Hotel in London' s Park Lane on June 7 last year.
A junior colleague of Jones who was at the event — but who did not see the slap — said she was shown a video of the incident and was upset by it.
Jones was reported to HR and had a disciplinary hearing the following month for 'physical conduct pertaining to sexual harassment '.
He said he had 'nothing to apologise' for and that even the actress 'felt it was appropriate in the context of the evening'.
But Jones was sacked over the 'wholly inappropriate' behaviour.
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He was told that entering into a conversation with the presenter before receiving the award was 'ill-judged and had the potential to put any female presenter in a very uncomfortable position'.
Gemma, who was in Emmerdale from 2011 to 2015, was not interviewed on the matter.
But in a social media post the day after the bash, she told of the 'naughtiness' of the event and said she had a 'bloody good giggle'.
Jones had joined Pladia in 2001 as head of health, safety, environment and security.
He appealed against his sacking but it was dismissed.
He then took it to the tribunal, alleging unfair dismissal.
Jones said the views of the actress were 'highly relevant' and that she 'did not feel harassed, was not distressed, and made no complaint'.
But the central London tribunal found his conduct had upset colleagues and he was fairly dismissed.
The Sun had approached Gemma for comment.