Wakefield firm gets cross over driver who put Christian symbol in his van

Former soldier Colin Atkinson has been asked to stay away from work by Wakefield and District Housing pending further investigation after he lodged a grievance about his treatment, the Christian Legal Centre claimed.

Mr Atkinson, 64, who lives in Wakefield, faced disciplinary action earlier this year after he refused to remove a cross from the dashboard of his company van following a complaint from a tenant.

After widespread publicity about the case, WDH lifted the threat of disciplinary action and allowed him to keep displaying the cross.

But the CLC claimed Mr Atkinson, who is one year from retirement, had suffered “continual problems” since returning to work at the housing association including having his van taken away from him and being told to travel by bus.

He has also been moved to a different office 16 miles away, the centre said.

Mr Atkinson said: “WDH have broken faith with me and not restored me to my job as they promised.

“I was told to travel in by bus and I suffered harassment at work.

“This is all because I wanted to keep a small palm cross in my van. I have not done anything wrong and I just want to return to my normal workplace.”

Andrea Minichiello Williams, CLC chief executive, said: “After a public outcry over his case, Colin Atkinson was allowed to return to work and to continue to display a palm cross in his van.

“However, since the media attention died away, he suffered continued harassment, and WDH has not honoured its agreement with him to allow him to return to his old job.

“It seems that WDH hoped that Colin could be bought off and go quietly.

“At the Christian Legal Centre we will be doing all we can to ensure that WDH is held to account and that Colin is free to express his Christian faith in the workplace.”

WDH refused to comment on the latest claims by the CLC.

The housing association began investigating Mr Atkinson earlier this year after it received a written complaint from a tenant relating to the eight-inch cross made from woven palm leaves.

At the time, it said its policy was to ban employees from displaying personal items in company vehicles.

It added that there had been no intention of sacking Mr Atkinson and stressed it had been working for nine months on a compromise with him.