A vicar and Oxford University academic has been awarded more than £40,000 after being unfairly sacked over the handling of a child sex abuse claim.
The Rev Dr James Lawson, who was the acting principal at the Society of St Stephen’s House, was dismissed for gross misconduct after allegedly failing to follow correct procedures when approached by a victim of historical abuse.
An employment tribunal heard the victim told Lawson the case was “very much closed” and suggested the abuse had been physical rather than sexual. As a result, Lawson organised counselling for the victim — referred to only as X — which the college paid for, but did not escalate the case.
