Barrister sacked for spanking colleague on their boss’s desk
A BARRISTER who was fired for spanking a colleague on his boss’s desk claims he was sacked unfairly.
Cambridge- educated Robert Jones, 40, and the younger woman had the kinky session while his senior partner was busy in court in March last year.
The couple also drew up relationship ‘contracts’ in which they discussed their sexual preferences. Mr Jones was later suspended by London legal firm Lexlaw for ‘inappropriate workplace activities’.
But the barrister, of Haringey, North London, claims he was actually fired in ‘retaliation’ for quitting over his pay and is taking his ex-bosses to an employment tribunal.
Mr Jones claims the firm tried to avoid paying his salary during his notice period.
He has also reported Lexlaw to the Information Commissioner’s Office, claiming he was ‘appalled’ they monitored his personal emails over several months in what he says is a breach of data protection laws.
The row erupted when Mr Jones handed in his notice in June last year. His managing director sent him an email asking him to reconsider but, when Mr Jones refused, he said he was hauled in front of directors and suspended for ‘bringing his hobby to work’.
But he said the ‘brief incident’ happened months earlier and so he decided to take his old firm to a tribunal.
The spanking was consensual and the couple did not have sex, he added. Months later he remains in contact with the woman, whom he said settled a claim out of court.
The barrister said he did not want to identify the ‘very junior employee’ involved.
Mr Jones told legal blog Roll On Friday he has already had his case heard in three preliminary hearings, with the final hearing scheduled for July. He said the ‘consensual’ relationship ‘ included one brief incident in private on work premises several months before the disciplinary proceedings’, adding: ‘My intention was to leave the firm so really I mean there’s some money involved but it’s not a large amount of money, it’s really a matter of holding Lexlaw to account for what I consider to be their mistreatment, both of me and the other person involved.’
A Lexlaw spokesman said: ‘The activities that took place are as unacceptable in our workplace as they would no doubt be in any workplace.’