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| Whistle-blower sues Corby Council for £1m | Whistle-blower sues Corby Council for £1m |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A council whistle-blower claims he was bullied to the brink of suicide after being "harassed, threatened, undermined and belittled" for revealing "financial irregularities". | A council whistle-blower claims he was bullied to the brink of suicide after being "harassed, threatened, undermined and belittled" for revealing "financial irregularities". |
| Corby Borough Council's head of property Steven Redfern has lodged a £1m damages claim at the High Court. | Corby Borough Council's head of property Steven Redfern has lodged a £1m damages claim at the High Court. |
| Mr Redfern said he became "a target for people's venom" after complaining about high profile land deals in the town. | Mr Redfern said he became "a target for people's venom" after complaining about high profile land deals in the town. |
| In defence papers, the council strongly denies Mr Redfern's claims. | In defence papers, the council strongly denies Mr Redfern's claims. |
| According to legal papers, Mr Redfern reported concerns about a number of "unethical" land deals to the council in August 2011 and then to the Audit Commission two months later. | According to legal papers, Mr Redfern reported concerns about a number of "unethical" land deals to the council in August 2011 and then to the Audit Commission two months later. |
| Northamptonshire Police has since launched an investigation into the council's financial dealings. | Northamptonshire Police has since launched an investigation into the council's financial dealings. |
| 'Terminate career' | 'Terminate career' |
| Mr Redfern said he was "bullied" after raising his concerns, with council officers talking "about putting nails in my coffin". | Mr Redfern said he was "bullied" after raising his concerns, with council officers talking "about putting nails in my coffin". |
| He was signed off work on 12 November 2012 with "depression and anxiety", having had suicidal thoughts. | He was signed off work on 12 November 2012 with "depression and anxiety", having had suicidal thoughts. |
| In a BBC interview, Mr Redfern said whistle-blowing was a "sure way to terminate your career". | In a BBC interview, Mr Redfern said whistle-blowing was a "sure way to terminate your career". |
| "I could not live with my conscience if I had not whistle-blown," he said. | "I could not live with my conscience if I had not whistle-blown," he said. |
| The claim relates to a period between late 2008 and November 2012. | The claim relates to a period between late 2008 and November 2012. |
| The court papers say Mr Redfern was "silenced" with threats of "disciplinary proceedings or dismissal". | The court papers say Mr Redfern was "silenced" with threats of "disciplinary proceedings or dismissal". |
| They also say then chief executive Chris Mallender, who retired in 2013, displayed "threatening and belittling behaviour towards employees". | They also say then chief executive Chris Mallender, who retired in 2013, displayed "threatening and belittling behaviour towards employees". |
| 'Massively undervalued' | 'Massively undervalued' |
| In papers submitted to the court, Corby Borough Council denies the behaviour of any of its employees amounted to "harassment, threatening, undermining or belittling conduct". | In papers submitted to the court, Corby Borough Council denies the behaviour of any of its employees amounted to "harassment, threatening, undermining or belittling conduct". |
| They also say Mr Redfern was not "silenced" by officers or subjected to threats of disciplinary proceedings. | They also say Mr Redfern was not "silenced" by officers or subjected to threats of disciplinary proceedings. |
| The writ filed by Mr Redfern claims he told the council a deal to sell land at St James - earmarked for a Tesco superstore - was "massively undervalued" and "unlawful". | The writ filed by Mr Redfern claims he told the council a deal to sell land at St James - earmarked for a Tesco superstore - was "massively undervalued" and "unlawful". |
| The Audit Commission later concluded the transaction "may have resulted in a loss of between £4.2m and £9.5m" and was "unlawful". | The Audit Commission later concluded the transaction "may have resulted in a loss of between £4.2m and £9.5m" and was "unlawful". |
| Mr Redfern also claims in the legal papers that the council had reported a deal for 146 homes in Kingswood "was making a profit when it was making a loss in the order of £1m." | Mr Redfern also claims in the legal papers that the council had reported a deal for 146 homes in Kingswood "was making a profit when it was making a loss in the order of £1m." |
| Auditors KPMG said a decision to add £10m to the budget had exposed it to "additional risk" in 2010/11. | Auditors KPMG said a decision to add £10m to the budget had exposed it to "additional risk" in 2010/11. |
| Its report, published in June 2013, supported many of Mr Redfern's concerns over the land deals. | Its report, published in June 2013, supported many of Mr Redfern's concerns over the land deals. |
| The writ says Mr Redfern was subjected to "harassing and degrading treatment" for writing a critical report into the £47.9m Corby Cube project, opened in November 2010, which now has a £13m overspend. | The writ says Mr Redfern was subjected to "harassing and degrading treatment" for writing a critical report into the £47.9m Corby Cube project, opened in November 2010, which now has a £13m overspend. |
| The writ also says that following Mr Mallender's departure, pressure on Mr Redfern "increased". | The writ also says that following Mr Mallender's departure, pressure on Mr Redfern "increased". |
| Mr Redfern was told he needed to reply to "five grievances against him", days after being told he had been diagnosed as "having a predisposition to suicide". | Mr Redfern was told he needed to reply to "five grievances against him", days after being told he had been diagnosed as "having a predisposition to suicide". |
| 'Duty to taxpayers' | |
| The defence submitted by the council denies there was an intention to cause Mr Redfern "psychiatric injury". | The defence submitted by the council denies there was an intention to cause Mr Redfern "psychiatric injury". |
| They say Mr Redfern had brought a number of grievances but was also subject to grievances by other employees. | They say Mr Redfern had brought a number of grievances but was also subject to grievances by other employees. |
| The papers say the authority had to balance its duty to taxpayers, to Mr Redfern and to other employees. | The papers say the authority had to balance its duty to taxpayers, to Mr Redfern and to other employees. |
| His solicitor, Des Collins, said: "Steven was subject to an awful regime after he whistle-blew. It has been a nightmare." | His solicitor, Des Collins, said: "Steven was subject to an awful regime after he whistle-blew. It has been a nightmare." |
| A council spokesman said it would be "inappropriate" to comment, while Mr Mallender declined to comment. | A council spokesman said it would be "inappropriate" to comment, while Mr Mallender declined to comment. |
| The case has been listed to go to the High Court in the summer. | The case has been listed to go to the High Court in the summer. |