Army veteran David Toshack, 50, was dismissed by GEOAmey during a training course only days before taking up a role as a prison custody officer (PCO) at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.
The father of three told a safeguarding workshop that he would not be comfortable using a transgender inmates’ preferred gender pronouns and expressed his belief that a man could not become a woman.
It sparked a horrified reaction from bosses at the firm, which employs thousands of justice workers across the UK, who said his views were against the law and company policy.
In an interview with the Mail, Mr Toshack told of his “shock” at being dismissed before he even started the job.
He said: “I’m just a normal, working class person who’s never been in trouble with the law before, not got a criminal record, lived a good life. I’ve been prepared to go and fight and die for my country, and then I have come back here and been told that there’s certain things you can’t think or can’t say.”
He was sacked the same day and forced to return his uniform and equipment with immediate effect.
He is now taking GEOAmey to an employment tribunal for unlawful discrimination and harassment for his beliefs.
The case, which is expected to take place later this year, could open the door to a flurry of further complaints from prison custody officers who have been asked to use trans inmates’ preferred pronouns....<<<Read More>>>....