Rugby cleaner loses discrimination case against Stagecoach

A Rugby office cleaner has lost a compensation claim for race discrimination against a bus company.



Edgar Mutede, of Long Lawford, near Rugby, brought a claim against Midland Red (South), trading as Stagecoach.

He made 21 allegations against the firm – one claiming he was rejected as a trainee driver because he was black.

Birmingham Tribunal judge Christopher Gaskell described the allegations as ‘‘outrageous’’ and said he preferred the evidence of the bus firm.

Mr Mutede had been a cleaner at the Rugby garage for five years and claimed he applied to be a trainee bus driver but was rejected because of his race.

He alleged, among the 21 complaints of race discrimination, that he had been restricted from using the bus drivers canteen and was stopped from washing his car at the garage.