A black former prison officer has said he suffers flashbacks and nightmares after colleagues in a high-security jail subjected him to extreme racist abuse and managers failed to support him.
Nigerian-born Uzo Mbonu said he felt he was picked on and ostracised by other officers atHMP Swaleside in Kentbecause he did not have a British accent, did not understand the jokes his colleagues made, and challenged things he felt were going wrong.
An employment tribunal found that insults colleagues used against Mbonu included extreme racial slurs and racial stereotyping. The tribunal ruled that Mbonu, 53, was the victim of direct race discrimination, harassment related to race, and constructive unfair dismissal.
Mbonu, who spent five years at the prison on the Isle of Sheppey, told the Guardian he joined because he wanted to make society a better place. “I was extremely passionate about rehabilitating offenders,” he said. “I believed in the dignity and potential of people, even in the most difficult and dehumanising environments.”
But he said he was targeted by fellow officers. “I went through hell and high water. The working environment was extremely hostile and degrading. I was stressed, anxious, depressed, burnt-out and lost my self-esteem. I suffered sleep disturbances, weakened immune system. I was completely isolated and I couldn’t trust anyone.
“I was treated with disdain. My voice was suppressed. My worth was invalidated. I felt I didn’t belong, just because I was black, didn’t have the British accent, had a different mannerism, didn’t understand British jokes, refused to join their shenanigans. I was often isolated, gaslighted and made to question my own perceptions.”
The tribunal said the insults violated his dignity and created an “intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment”.
It flagged up that though Mbonu complained about an offensive comment made by a colleague, no evidence of it being responded to was produced during the tribunal.
In its ruling, it said: “This we consider goes a considerable way to support the claimant’s [Mbonu’s] overarching allegations of being ignored and treated badly … There appears to be an unusual tolerance for such offensive and obviously racist remarks.”
The tribunal said a different colleague made a separate comment about him being “money-grabbing” and on the same day wrote a false account of an incident involving Mbonu and a prisoner.
A third officer also made a false claim about a meeting he said he had with Mbonu concerning a bonus scheme. The tribunal said it was “troubling” that this man went on to join the UK Border Force.
The tribunal, which sat in south London, said it was not difficult to see how Mbonu felt there was a “witch-hunt” against him. It said: “We find it entirely understandable why Mr Mbonu would become increasingly distressed and paranoid.”
Mbonu was overall a “credible and honest witness”, the tribunal said, adding: “We found him to be someone who was deeply affected by his time at Swaleside.”
Mbonu said he was falsely accused over his work with two prisoners and resigned in 2023.
He said: “I’m still going through the trauma inflicted on me. I haven’t recovered and I don’t think that I will. I still have sad flashbacks and nightmares. I feel a whirlwind of emotions like anger, grief, betrayal, self-doubt, exhaustion, loneliness, PTSD.”
The Prison Service says all allegations of unacceptable behaviour are taken seriously, investigated and, where appropriate, disciplinary action is taken.
It has atackling unacceptable behaviour unitthat it says aims to improve the working environment by providing additional support, insight and expertise to staff raising concerns.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “We will carefully consider this judgment. All reported incidents of discrimination are taken extremely seriously and investigated robustly.”
A remedy hearing is due to take place for the tribunal to rule on compensation.