Headlines: Trams and ex-footballer jailed for drug smuggling
Here's our weekly round up of stories from across local websites in the West of England.We have a daily round up as well. Make sure you look out for it on the website and the local section of the BBC News app.
What have been the big stories in the West this week?
Former Bristol City footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been sentenced to four years in prison for his role in a £600,000 cannabis smuggling operation.Bristol Live said the 34-year-old was arrested after authorities intercepted 60 kilograms of cannabis at Stansted Airport, concealed in suitcases arriving from Thailand. Emmanuel-Thomas had recruited two women, including his girlfriend, to transport the drugs. While the women were cleared of charges due to lack of evidence, Emmanuel-Thomas pleaded guilty to the offence.The Swindon Advertiser published an interview with Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson, who has supported calls to make cannabis a class A drug, which would bring it into line with drugs like heroin and crack cocaine.The Stroud News and Journal reported on an equine therapy centre in Stroud that is looking for a new home as its current one is up for sale.Could Bristol finally get a tram system? The current Metro Mayor Helen Godwin believes so. Bristol Live reported on a new government investment into the West of England's transport system earlier this week.Weston-super-Mare's club chairman stepped down this week after an incredible 39 years at the helm. The club said it believed he was one of the longest serving chairmen in English football.And if you're feeling flush with money, Somerset Live has reported on the luxury Glastonbury accommodation which will set you back £28,000 - though it comes with its own helicopter landing pad.
Top five local stories for the BBC in the West
Something longer to read
Bristol historian Eugene Byrne has written an article for the Bristol Cable, exploring the Bristolians who profited from the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.When Union soldiers blockaded American ports, the Confederates sent agents to the UK to purchase muskets and other weapons, and Bristolian ships were used as 'blockade runners' to try and evade patrolling warships.
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The Guardian
16 hours ago
- The Guardian
Church accountant discriminated against by diocese in Bristol for being non-Catholic
A church accountant successfully sued a Catholic diocese after she was subjected to religious discrimination, it has emerged. Janet Parker, 55, fell out with her boss after she asked for leave to care for her newly adopted daughter in 2020. However, the following year, when her request for flexible working was refused, she complained, observing that 'the Catholic church does not have a blemish-free history when it comes to adopted children or children in care'. 'I hoped that this kind of prejudice had been eradicated long ago,' she said. 'Maybe I am wrong.' After this Parker claimed to have been subjected to a 'witch-hunt' by managers at the Clifton diocese in Bristol for alleged professional negligence which led to her being sacked from her £60,000-a-year role. In April last year, she won claims against the diocese after a tribunal ruled the church organisation had discriminated against her, harassed her and then unfairly sacked her because she was not religious. The details of the judgment emerged at a disciplinary hearing held in March this year and conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAEW) into abusive messages Parker allegedly sent to the diocese chief operating officer, Lyn Murray, after her dismissal. The ICAEW has issued her with a caution over the abusive messages. Parker had claimed the diocese's approach to her flexible working request was 'tainted by negative views of adoption, emanating from the religious beliefs of its staff'. The employment judge Adam Midgley said that the way the diocese had handled the disciplinary process meant that Parker – as a non Catholic – had been religiously discriminated against. '[She] has argued that from the moment she challenged the [diocese], particularly from the point at which she referenced the Catholic church's treatment of vulnerable children, her card was marked, and [it] closed ranks to protect itself and dismiss her.' He described the investigation that led to her dismissal as appearing like a 'witch-hunt' and said it was 'derisory in its depth, unbalanced and focused on establishing fault'. The tribunal judgment said Parker was discriminated against for being a 'non-Catholic'. When asked by reporters about her religious background, Parker said she was 'atheist, always have been'. Parker has yet to receive compensation as the diocese is understood to have launched an appeal. The Clifton diocese declined to comment.
Telegraph
17 hours ago
- Telegraph
Church sacked accountant for being non-Catholic
A church sacked an accountant after she was discriminated against for not being Catholic, a tribunal has found. University of Cambridge-educated Janet Parker argued with her female boss after she asked for leave to care for her newly adopted daughter. When the 55-year-old's request for flexible working was refused, she complained, observing that 'the Catholic Church does not have a blemish-free history when it comes to adopted children or children in care'. Ms Parker was then subjected to a 'witch hunt' investigation for alleged professional negligence, which led to her dismissal from her £60,000-a-year role. She has now won claims against Clifton Diocese after a tribunal ruled it discriminated against her, harassed her and then unfairly sacked her because she was not religious. Ms Parker, who later told a reporter that she was an atheist, claimed the diocese's approach to her flexible working request was 'tainted by negative views of adoption, emanating from the religious beliefs of its staff'. Disapproval of adoption leave Details of her tribunal claim emerged at a disciplinary hearing, conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAEW), into abusive messages she sent to Lyn Murray, the diocese chief operating officer, after her dismissal. According to the full judgment – which has not been made public – the hearing in Bristol was told that she had worked at the diocese, which covers the west of England, from February 2015 until her dismissal in October 2021. Ms Parker, described by the tribunal as a 'very intelligent, articulate, and able woman', had been a chartered accountant since 1998 and worked in London at Deloittes and Credit Suisse before moving to the charity sector in 2009. In 2019, her application to adopt a baby girl was approved and in January 2020 she informed Mrs Murray, who she said had previously been supportive, of her intention to take 52 weeks of adoption leave. The tribunal was told: 'Mrs Murray did not react well, arguing that she did not believe that [Ms Parker] could 'go on leave with no notice,' as she described it, and expressed dissatisfaction that [she] would 'do that to her'.' Ms Parker began her leave in September 2020 but the tribunal heard that during her absence, her replacement flagged potential financial irregularities in the accounts for which she had been responsible. Church launched disciplinary investigation In July 2021, Ms Parker had a conversation with Mrs Murray about reducing hours and working from home because she was struggling to find childcare for her daughter. However, her request was refused, and the following month the diocese launched disciplinary proceedings against her before putting her on suspension. Ms Parker responded by issuing a grievance against Mrs Murray, she said: 'This behaviour is not in accordance with the professed beliefs of the Catholic Church. 'I know that the Catholic Church does not have a blemish-free history when it comes to adopted children or children in care, but I hoped that this kind of prejudice had been eradicated long ago. Maybe I am wrong.' The hearing was told that the ICAEW was asked to investigate the allegations against her and eventually found there was insufficient evidence to support the complaints. However, at the conclusion of its investigation, the diocese decided to dismiss her for gross misconduct. The tribunal heard this led to Ms Parker sending an email to Mrs Murray saying: 'There is one thing I always wanted to say to you. Now I can. F--- OFF YOU B---H.' and 'Your god might forgive you but I never will. B---h.' She then put out Facebook posts saying: 'You asked for it and I'm coming for you,' and 'Nolite te bastardes carborundorum, b----es,' – meaning 'don't let the bastards grind you down, b----es' in Latin. 'Witch hunt' Employment Judge Adam Midgley said Ms Parker, as a non Catholic, had been religiously discriminated against. He said: '[She] has argued that from the moment she challenged the [diocese], particularly from the point at which she referenced the Catholic Church's treatment of vulnerable children, her card was marked, and [it] closed ranks to protect itself and dismiss her.' 'Those are very serious allegations. The claimant is required to produce some evidence from which we could, properly directing ourselves, conclude that the reason for the matters she complains of was her religion or belief – ie that she was a non-Catholic.' He described the investigation that led to her dismissal as appearing like 'witch hunt' and said it was 'derisory in its depth, unbalanced and focused on establishing fault'. Ms Parker has yet to receive compensation following the judgment as the diocese is understood to have launched an appeal. Speaking after the ICAEW issued her a caution over the abusive messages, Ms Parker said: 'I wasn't happy with the ICAEW outcome but I suppose it was the best outcome given the situation. I don't think what I did was wrong and I think I just did what probably millions of people around the country want to do when they leave their jobs.'
Daily Mail
21 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Church accountant sacked by Catholic diocese after 'witch hunt' for being an atheist wins £60k payout
A church accountant has successfully sued a Catholic diocese after she was discriminated against for being an atheist. Cambridge University-educated Janet Parker, 55, fell out with her boss after she asked for leave to care for her newly adopted daughter. When her request for flexible working was refused, she complained, adding that 'the Catholic Church does not have a blemish-free history when it comes to adopted children or children in care'. 'I hoped that this kind of prejudice had been eradicated long ago,' she said. 'Maybe I am wrong.' Following this, Miss Parker was subjected to a 'witch hunt' investigation by managers at the Clifton Diocese for alleged professional negligence which led to her being sacked from her £60,000-a-year-role. She has now won claims against them after a tribunal ruled the church organisation had discriminated against her, harassed her and then unfairly sacked her because she was not religious. Miss Parker claimed the diocese's approach to her flexible working request was 'tainted by negative views of adoption, emanating from the religious beliefs of its staff'. Details of Miss Parker's tribunal claim emerged at a disciplinary hearing conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAEW) into abusive messages she sent to diocese Chief Operating Officer, Lyn Murray, after her dismissal. According to the full judgement - which has not been made public - the hearing in Bristol was told that she had worked at the Diocese - which covers the West of England and has assets exceeding £200 million - from February 2015 until her dismissal in October 2021. Miss Parker - described by the tribunal as a 'very intelligent, articulate, and able woman' - had been a chartered accountant since 1998 and had worked in London at Deloittes and Credit Suisse before moving to the charity sector in 2009. In 2019 her application to adopt a baby girl was approved and in January 2020 she informed Mrs Murray of her intention to take 52 weeks of adoption leave. The tribunal heard: 'Mrs Murray did not react well, arguing that she did not believe that [Miss Parker] could 'go on leave with no notice,' as she described it, and expressed dissatisfaction that [she] would 'do that to her', 'She asked why the child could not be placed into separate foster care before it was placed with [Miss Parker] so that [she] could conduct a handover. 'Additionally, Mrs Murray asked [her] whether it was really necessary for her to take her full entitlement of 52 weeks of adoption leave.' Miss Parker began her leave in September 2020. The tribunal heard that during her absence, her replacement flagged potential financial irregularities in the accounts she had been responsible for. In July 2021 Miss Parker had a conversation with Mrs Murray about reducing hours and working from home as she was struggling to find childcare for her daughter. However, her request was refused and the following month, the diocese launched disciplinary proceedings against her and put her on suspension. Miss Parker responded by issuing a grievance against Mrs Murray. 'This behaviour is not in accordance with the professed beliefs of the Catholic Church,' she said. 'I know that the Catholic Church does not have a blemish-free history when it comes to adopted children or children in care, but I hoped that this kind of prejudice had been eradicated long ago. Maybe I am wrong.' During the investigation into her, senior church executive Carole Lawrence mocked Miss Parker - who suffers from anxiety and depression - saying she was glad she had not had a panic attack before a disciplinary hearing, the tribunal was told. The hearing was told the ICAEW was asked to investigate the allegations against her and eventually found there was insufficient evidence to support the complaints. However, at the conclusion of its investigation the diocese decided to dismiss her for gross misconduct. The tribunal heard this led to Miss Parker sending an email to Mrs Murray saying: 'There is one thing I always wanted to say to you. Now I can. F*** OFF YOU B****.' and 'Your god might forgive you but I never will. B****.' She then put out Facebook posts saying: 'You asked for it and I'm coming for you,' and 'Nolite te bastardes carborundorum, b****s,' - meaning 'don't let the b******* grind you down, b*****s' in Latin. Employment Judge Adam Midgley said that the way the diocese had handled the disciplinary process meant Miss Parker - as a non Catholic - had been religiously discriminated against. '[She] has argued that from the moment she challenged the [diocese], particularly from the point at which she referenced the Catholic Church's treatment of vulnerable children, her card was marked, and [it] closed ranks to protect itself and dismiss her.' He described the investigation that led to her dismissal as appearing like 'witch hunt' and said it was 'derisory in its depth, unbalanced and focused on establishing fault'. Miss Parker has yet to receive compensation following the judgement as the diocese is understood to have launched an appeal. The ICAEW issued her with a caution over the abusive messages and social media posts. In response, Miss Parker said: 'I wasn't happy with ICAEW outcome but I suppose it was the best outcome given the situation. 'I don't think what I did was wrong and I think I just did what probably millions of people around the country want to do when they leave their jobs. 'I have been through four years of hell with this and my parents, daughter and siblings have suffered too. 'I've gone self-employed as I don't think I could ever trust an employer again. 'I can honestly say I hate the Catholic Church and think they cannot be trusted.'
