A man has been awarded more than £2,750 at an employment tribunal after claiming he was discriminated against by his employer based on his perceived sexual orientation.

Employment tribunal documents explain how Jordan Morley who was working for a company named The Cavity Claim Group, which dissolved in 2019, and had secured an apprenticeship there which had been set up by Oldham College.

Mr Morley claimed he was harassed by his employer, Reece Driscoll, on two occasions in early 2018 which were centred around his perceived sexual orientation.

In a text sent by Mr Driscoll to Mr Morley on January 9, 2018, the former was discussing a previous relationship of his when he said to the latter "don't want to say but [you're] gay are you".

A second text sent from Mr Driscoll to Mr Morley on March 15 later that year, after the latter had raised an issue over his pay, read: "Listen you little gay boy I'm the big gay boy and get on one let's talk before meetings I [will] listen to you before we go into meetings is that ok?"

The employment tribunal document stated Mr Morley felt "shocked, nauseous, and angry when he received the texts" and that he found it hard to go to work and be around Mr Driscoll.

In a claim form presented to the tribunal on July 9, 2018, Mr Morley brought forward claims of unfair dismissal, sexual orientation discrimination and for unpaid wages and holiday pay, arising out of his employment as an apprentice.

All of these except for the claim of sexual orientation discrimination were eventually withdrawn.

The claimant also originally planned to pursue an order against Oldham College, but due to the college not retaining any relevant documents, this was also dropped.

At an employment tribunal hearing on October 13, 2022, employment Judge Paul Holmes found Mr Morley's claim of harassment on the grounds of his perceived sexual orientation were well founded.

Employment Judge Holmes felt the texts, particularly the second one, were an abuse of Mr Driscoll's position and ruled that Mr Morley was entitled to £2,763.84 on the ground of injury and interest.