A woman sacked by Bridgnorth Town Council for leaking confidential documents to help her then boss was guilty of ‘the grossest possible’ breach of trust, an employment tribunal ruled.

An employment tribunal judge said the only offence worse than that committed by Mary Merrifield was embezzlement.

Mrs Merrifield was personal assistant to former Bridgnorth Town Council clerk Rachel Humphries – who had herself lodged an employment grievance with the town council in November 2009.

The panel in Birmingham yesterday dismissed Mrs Merrifield’s claim for unfair dismissal and ordered her to pay at least £10,000 of the council’s costs in the case.

Tribunal judge Mr John Macmillan said: “This was the grossest possible breach of trust by an employee of the council who was clearly bent on undermining the council and favouring her former boss in any way she could.”

Mrs Merrifield’s tribunal heard inquiries made by locum town clerk John Ward unearthed a string of e-mails which she had sent from work to Mrs Humphries while the latter was off ill with work-related stress.

Mr Ward said one of the e-mails sent by Mrs Merrifield to Mrs Humphries contained the transcribed minutes of a confidential council meeting in January 2010 where the authority’s strategy over Mrs Humphries’s grievance claim was discussed.

Mrs Merrifield, of Cartway, Bridgnorth, was made the subject of disciplinary proceedings in July last year and sacked for gross misconduct the following month. She subsequently appealed but that was rejected by an independent appeals panel.

She was not at the tribunal yesterday to hear the panel’s verdict as she was giving evidence at the time in a separate employment tribunal in Birmingham in which Mrs Humphries, who quit the council last December, is claiming she was sexually discriminated against.

Her hearing continues.

See also:

• Bridgnorth Town Council expecting £350,000 legal bill
• Tribunal told Bridgnorth Town Council officer leaked information
• Clerk ‘used allowances to buy her groceries’
• Ex-Bridgnorth clerk accused of exaggerating CV