Latest news with #RobertWatson
Pembrokeshire Herald
3 days ago
- Health
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Veteran with PTSD fined after abandoning car in Haverfordwest crash
AN ARMY veteran suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) appeared before magistrates this week after abandoning his car following a collision in Haverfordwest. Robert Watson, 38, left his Kia Sportage in Clay Lanes on May 18 after it was involved in a crash. He pleaded guilty at Haverfordwest Magistrates' Court to four offences: failing to stop after an accident, driving without due care and attention, driving without a licence, and driving without third-party insurance. His solicitor, Fenn Richards, told the court that Watson's actions were heavily influenced by complex mental health issues stemming from his military service in Iraq. 'This is someone with complex needs which are being addressed through counselling, therapy and rehabilitation at the VC Gallery,' she said. 'That night, he was feeling extremely stressed and went out to buy a bottle of wine. He now recognises he should have asked his partner to drive, but he doesn't remember getting home — his PTSD had clearly taken over.' The court heard that Watson had been homeless for three years after fleeing a violent domestic relationship, but had recently secured permanent accommodation and was now receiving targeted support for his condition. 'He's had to deal with a considerable amount over the last few years, but he is finally receiving help,' added Ms Richards. Watson, of Spring Gardens, Letterston, was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £32 victim surcharge. His licence was endorsed with six penalty points, resulting in an automatic six-month driving disqualification under the totting-up procedure.
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Hamilton Accies Women boss heaps praise on champions on trophy day
Robert Watson's side won the title with a game to spare Hamilton Accies Women boss Robert Watson got his hands on the SWPL2 trophy and says his 'brilliant' team deserve all the credit they will receive, after winning the league with a bit to spare. Accies received the silverware on Sunday after beating Rossvale 5-1 at New Douglas Park, ending their campaign four points clear of Kilmarnock in second, having scored 103 league goals and conceded just 28, and with 21 victories from their 28 games. With final day doubles, Josi Giard was top league scorer on 26 [27 in total] and Sophie Townsley ended on 20, with Justine Strain also on the score-sheet. Watson says his record-setting squad deserve all the plaudits. He said: 'Sunday was really good, being able to finish off with a really good win and put a wee bit of a show on for the crowd that come in. 'When you lift a trophy, you want to make sure you win on the day, and it was good that Josi managed to finish top scorer in the league, Sophie was aiming for 20 league goals, which she did, and Justine got another goal. 'Between the game at the weekend there and when we won it through at Gartcairn, every single player got on the pitch, which was important as well, to make sure everyone was a part of it. 'Every player has delivered something at some point over the season, so it was a really good day. 'Scoring 103 league goals and 28 conceded means we have the best attack and defence, and there was only one game we didn't score in, which was the Scottish Cup last-16 up at Aberdeen. 'There are loads of records that the club have beaten, from a club point of view, and they deserve all the credit that they've got over the last week or so, because they've been brilliant since last August.' Watson added: 'I knew we would make chances, it was just making sure that we were clinical enough, and we were in the first half, with Josi and Sophie getting two each. 'From there we were in total domination of the game and it was probably a fitting way to finish off, hitting those numbers of goals. 'The game went a wee bit flat in the second half, we were never in danger of losing the game. 'But I have to pay credit to the subs who came on in the second half, because we definitely took a lift in the last 25 or 30 minutes of the game, and probably should have scored another couple more than we did. 'But it's testament to how much everybody has contributed over the season.' On next season's targets in the top flight, Watson said: 'The immediate thing is finding a way to stay up. We're going to have the smallest budget, we're going to be the smallest team in the division. 'I'm sure we'll keep a few players with experience, but we're going to need to look to bring more players in and probably improve the depth of our squad. 'I'm really optimistic. I think the experiences of last season are going to stand us in good stead, both for the players who played last season and will be involved next year, and just from us as a coaching staff. 'Having had a year to build and develop a bit more of a playing style has been really important as well. 'A lot of that work has already been done. 'Aside from all of that there will be excitement from everyone, because we're playing against the big teams again.'
Times
22-05-2025
- Times
Discrimination case shows that sighs matter
An employment tribunal in Southampton has ruled that a boss's 'sighing and exaggerated exhales' can be considered discriminatory. Given the contemporary tendency to find offence where none exists, an instinctive reaction to this judgment might be to see further evidence of society's ever-thinning skin in the face of any imagined criticism. Yet on reflection a reasonable person would surely agree with the judge's comment that non-verbal expressions of irritation can have a 'damning effect on self-esteem and anxiety'. Some discrimination cases are frivolous but the one successfully brought by Robert Watson against Roke Manor Research had merit. A theatrical sigh, a snort of laughter, a sneer, an eye roll, right the way up to a middle finger or a punch in the face — all
Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Sighing at a colleague? That could count as workplace harassment
Many a sigh has been heaved by bosses at an underling who has caused irritation. Well, now a judge has warned that expressing that frustration can legally be considered harassment. Using 'non-verbal' expressions of disappointment or irritation can breach equality laws, an employment tribunal judge has ruled in a case involving a software engineer who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Robert Watson claimed that his manager's 'sighing and exaggerating exhales' were discriminatory. He is now in line for compensation from Roke Manor Research, the company that invented the Hawk-Eye technology for sports including cricket, football and tennis. Watson joined the company in 2020 and had ADHD diagnosed two years later. The tribunal in Southampton was told that his timekeeping was 'poor', he was 'easily
Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Sighing at a colleague in frustration is discrimination, tribunal rules
Sighing in frustration at a colleague at work is discrimination, an employment tribunal has ruled. The ruling came in the case of a software engineer with ADHD who successfully sued a tech company after complaining about his manager's 'sighing and exaggerated exhales'. Robert Watson is now in line for compensation from Roke Manor Research, the inventors of the Hawk-Eye ball tracking system, after the firm was found guilty of unlawful discrimination. The hearing in Southampton, Hants, was told that Mr Watson started working for the company, based in nearby Romsey, as a software engineer in August 2020. 'Easily distracted' However, as a result of his ADHD, which was not diagnosed until November 2022, the tribunal heard that Mr Watson's time keeping was 'poor' and that he was 'easily distracted'. Mr Watson began taking medication for the condition after his diagnosis and took four days off sick. When he returned to work, the technical lead of one of the projects he was working on, referred to only as DT, told him that 'something's got to change' because he had to do 'several days' worth of additional work' partly because of Mr Watson's absence. The tribunal said that it was 'not appropriate' for the manager to 'take out his frustration' on Mr Watson – who was reduced to tears after the encounter. Over the following weeks, DT continued to criticise him. The tribunal heard: '[Mr Watson] alleges that DT questioned [his] hours of work and his patterns of work and the time he spent at his project desk and that he expressed nonverbal frustration such as sighing and exaggerated exhales. 'He said that over the next few weeks, DT made comments which made him feel anxious.' 'Net detriment' At a meeting in December between the two, DT – who told the tribunal he was struggling to make adjustments for Mr Watson in a 'high pressure' environment – told him he was becoming a 'net detriment' and made a joke about 'putting your ADHD aside for a moment'. Mr Watson went off sick because of work-related stress from February 2023 and never returned. He filed his claim for disability discrimination in May 2023, and was sacked in January 2024. DT's behaviour towards him was found to be discriminatory by the tribunal. Employment Judge Catherine Rayner said: 'I conclude the reason for the expressions of frustration arose from things which themselves arose from [Mr Watson]'s disability, such as his time keeping and working patterns and the fact that he was spending time away from his project desk.' She added: 'Had [Roke Manor Research] taken steps to identify adjustments required for [Mr Watson] at an earlier stage and provided both him and the project lead with necessary support it is entirely possible that DT would not have himself suffered with such work pressure and it is possible therefore that this discrimination would have been avoided.' Other claims Mr Watson made relating to additional discrimination and a claim of unfair dismissal were not upheld. His compensation will be decided at a later date.
