Married surveyor wins £109k payout after being falsely accused of having an affair with her boss
A MARRIED surveyor fired after being falsely accused of having an affair with her boss has won a £109,000 payout.
Debbie Jacka was humiliated and distressed when told by Peter Ellicock about his jealous girlfriend Emma Rowson’s suspicions.
The mother of one, 43, was also told she could no longer go on appointments with him, talk to him about non-work matters or meet him outside the office.
A few months later she was sacked by Mr Ellicock from her £60,000-a-year job as he told her: “Clearly you and Emma despise each other.”
Now, she has won compensation from his firm for sex harassment and victimisation.
Ms Jacka and Mr Ellicock had previously owned an estate agency in Cornwall and enjoyed a harmonious, professional relationship for about six years.
In April 2021 she became a director at Steren, a surveying firm he had set up in Redruth.
But he soon confided that Ms Rowson — now his wife — was jealous and did not trust him.
In August, she accused Mr Ellicock of having an affair with Ms Jacka, who lives with her husband Owen and five-year-old daughter in St Agnes, Cornwall.
The next day he told Ms Jacka what his partner said. “He said that Ms Jacka should be extra nice to her,” a tribunal heard.
“Ms Jacka felt distressed and humiliated at this accusation.”
His behaviour changed, sending her hostile, sexist texts and twice losing his temper with her.
In November, he sacked her saying her work was not good enough.
But the tribunal in Exeter awarded the payout, concluding he created an “intimidating, degrading, humiliating and offensive environment”.