Claimant v The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest and Natural Beauty
Outcome
Individual claims
The claimant was ordered to pay deposits of £250 for each allegation of harassment following a preliminary hearing on 14 May 2025. The deposits were not paid within 28 days of the order being sent. Under rule 40(4) of the Employment Tribunal Procedure Rules 2024, all allegations of harassment are struck out for non-payment of the deposit order.
Multiple allegations related to the claimant's medication use and mental health were struck out for non-payment of deposit orders. The tribunal had previously found little reasonable prospect of success at the preliminary hearing, ordering deposits which the claimant failed to pay within the prescribed time limit.
Allegations relating to Spanish nationality and references to the claimant's parents as 'peasants' and comments about Spanish ingredients were struck out for non-payment of the deposit order within 28 days of the order being sent to the claimant on 17 September 2025.
Facts
The claimant brought 20 allegations of harassment against the National Trust, relating to incidents between March 2021 and May 2023 while working as a ranger. The allegations included sexual harassment, harassment related to disability (medication use), and harassment related to Spanish nationality. Following a preliminary hearing on 14 May 2025, the tribunal ordered the claimant to pay deposits of £250 for each allegation as a condition of continuing the claims. The order was sent to the claimant on 17 September 2025.
Decision
The tribunal struck out all 20 allegations of harassment because the claimant failed to pay the required deposits within 28 days of the order being sent. The judge rejected the claimant's submission that she had withdrawn all complaints. Under rule 40(4) of the Employment Tribunal Procedure Rules 2024, the claims were automatically struck out for non-payment.
Practical note
Failure to pay deposit orders within the prescribed time limit results in automatic strike-out of claims under rule 40(4), regardless of any purported withdrawal of the claims.
Legal authorities cited
Statutes
Case details
- Case number
- 2501114/2024
- Decision date
- 22 December 2025
- Hearing type
- strike out
- Hearing days
- 1
- Classification
- procedural
Respondent
- Sector
- charity
- Represented
- No
Employment details
- Role
- ranger
Claimant representation
- Represented
- No