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Woman allegedly sacked for reporting rape claim against Big Brother star Jason Cowan wins £30,000 payout

THE 36-year-old told her bosses that she had been raped at a Christmas party by Jason Cowan in 2011, who denied the charge and was later cleared in court.

A woman who claimed she was sacked for reporting an alleged rape by a reality TV star has won more than £30,000 in damages.

The 36-year-old, who can’t be named for legal reasons, told her employers she’d been raped at a Christmas party by Big Brother star Jason Cowan – who always denied the allegation and was cleared in court.

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She was fired after criminal proceedings began against Cowan – who worked for the same firm.

An employment tribunal in Glasgow last week heard Cowan was a friend of a company director, who also can’t be named.

The distraught woman was told her position was being made redundant after she told the firm about the impending court case.

She described being “humiliated” and “embarrassed” after being ordered to clear her desk and put on leave until her notice period had expired.

Judge Ian McPherson ruled the woman was unfairly dismissed after reporting the alleged attack.

He wrote: “We consider that it is reasonable for us to draw an inference that her dismissal was by reason of her having made that protected disclosure.

“Especially when that is considered against the factual background of what happened to the claimant after advising (a director) about criminal proceedings being taken.”

The director, who has since resigned, refused to comment at his home in Bearsden.

The woman, who is receiving counselling, was awarded £30,465 as a result of her dismissal.

She claimed she was attacked by Cowan – runner-up in the 2004 series of Big Brother – at a holiday estate in Lochgoilhead, Argyll in December 2011.

The venue was booked by the firm for a Christmas party and Cowan was invited because he was the company’s personal trainer.

He was eventually found not guilty of rape at the High Court in Glasgow last year.

The woman told the tribunal how the firm’s managing director was fully supportive after she returned to work in January 2012 but his attitude changed.

Human resources were told to carry out an internal probe. But, before its conclusion, the investigator was told by Cowan’s friend to “draw a line under it”.

A letter was sent claiming a “thorough and unprejudicial investigation” had been carried out and there was “not enough information to allow a fair and informed” employment decision.

In August 2012, the woman was told a trial would take place at the High Court and she informed the managing director. She was called to a meeting and told her job was being made redundant.

The tribunal heard the woman told the managing director she believed her dismissal was related to the rape allegation against a man who has a close relationship with one of the other directors.

She was told she would only get one week’s notice and had until the end of the week to return her company car and property.

Following a lawyer’s letter, she was told she could work her notice, which was three months.

But, when she went to the office a colleague told her she was instructed to ask her to “clean her desk”. She told the tribunal that she felt “humiliated” and “embarrassed” and said “I just wanted to run away”.

The managing director told her he didn’t want her in the office as much as she didn’t want to be there, and put her on gardening leave. The woman described it as “like psychological warfare”.

His final words to her were “leave your phone and go”. A subsequent appeal was rejected.

Margaret Gribbon – who represented the claimant – said: “This is one of the worst cases of mistreatment in the workplace I’ve encountered.

“Further, the company’s belief that their conduct was capable of being defended only added to my client’s torment.

“My client’s decision to pursue this case is testament to her courage and extraordinary strength of character, she is enormously grateful to the Employment Tribunal for restoring her faith in justice and their judgement will allow her to put this ordeal behind her so that she can continue to rebuild her life.”

The woman declined to comment.

The Daily Record