This disturbing footage shows a woman collapsing as her colleague strangles her in a headlock at a work Christmas party.
Bar manager Molly Phillips, 23, suffered facial paralysis from Nathan Webbs chokehold and is now physically unable to smile.
She carried on working with the chef at The Cameo Club in Cardiff for several months until she decided to complain to her boss in March, an employment tribunal found.
But they failed to investigate the incident last December, despite the shocking CCTV footage from the bar, where the party was being held on-site.
Molly said her boss Jason Pearce even joked about the incident, telling Webb he heard he had been choking girls lately.
The other bar director Huw Davies said he couldnt wave a magic wand and fix everything and told Molly to get over it, the tribunal heard.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Even when Webb was arrested over the incident and released under investigation, the bar still kept him on in his job.
The tribunal found Molly was unfairly dismissed after she was forced to resign, because her bosses repeatedly brushed aside her complaints.
She is now battling PTSD, depression and anxiety along with her facial paralysis.
The tribunal was shown the moment in the footage where Mollys arms go rigid as the chef holds her neck.
When Webb releases her, she collapses to the floor hitting her head.
Her injuries were either caused by lack of oxygen or nerve damage, the tribunal heard.
Molly initially returned to work after the incident and told bosses she did not want to take any action.
But as time went on, she became increasingly distrustful and fearful of the chef.
At the same time, medics were telling her the injuries she suffered would have longer lasting effects than previously thought.
By March 24 she said she was finding it hard to come into work and was crying both before and during my shifts.
Yet when she raised these concerns with her boss, she was told to get over it and ultimately felt she had no choice but to quit.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Judge Alison Frazer was heavily critical of The Cameos directors for failing to take her concerns seriously and found Molly was justified in resigning.
She said: I find that from April onwards Mr Davies acted in a way which was dismissive of the claimants feelings about the incident.
He told her to “get over it” when referring to the Christmas party incident.
Molly says the worst bit was the fact her bosses didnt do anything
Id worked there for two and half years and done everything to that place and it was just like, I realised I meant nothing to them and I was completely disposable, she said.
More: UK
She also admitted she cant smile in photographs, adding: People dont notice it, but I notice it more than anything.
If its still like that when I get married, I wont be able to smile in my wedding photos. Things like that. Its not nice.
The Cameo Club said it had no comment at all.
Advertisement
Advertisement
[contf]
[contfnew]
METRO
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]
