A woman who suffered from epileptic seizures has won an intimidation claim after her boss had sent her a photo of the girl from the exorcist who foams foaming.
Charlene Friend's manager Lisa Gilbert gave the nickname her 'Regan' after the possessed child from the classic horror film from 1973, heard an employment tribunal.
The housing officer – who had sustained a traumatic head injury in a 'violent gang of attack' – said that the reference felt 'terribly' and 'mocked' by her colleague.
Mrs. Friend added that as a Christian the idea that she had an 'angry spirit' in her, 'had stayed with her psychologically'.
The tribunal also heard that Mrs. Gilbert told her colleague that people with mental health problems were 'attention seekers'.
Mrs Friend was signed because of her seizures and later rejected by her employer because there was no 'foreseeable prospect' that she could return to work after two years.
But she now stands in line for a payout after one Tribunal ruled that Mrs. Gilbert's comments were 'completely inappropriate' and 'disturbing'
The tribunal, held in Croydon, heard that Miss Friend started working as a customer connection officer in 2018 for Kent-based MHS Homes.
A woman who suffered from epileptic seizures has won an intimidation claim after her boss sent her a photo of the girl from the exorcist (depicted Croydon Employment Tribunal)
Charlene Friend's manager Lisa Gilbert gave the nickname her 'Regan' after the possessed child from the classic horror film from 1973, heard an employment tribunal
In 2014 she was stabbed in the head with a machete and beaten with a baseball bat during a 'violent gang attack' that left her with PTSD, fear and cognitive impairment.
The hearing was told that Mrs. Friend was initially at work, but after a restructuring in 2019, she had difficulty losing her new role and the amount of training needed.
In September 2020 she heard a conversation between Mrs. Gilbert and another colleague about her performance in which her boss said she was 'lazy', 'unable to do her work' and they had to find a way to let her go.
This discussion ensured that Miss Friend cried and left the office and the same afternoon she contacted her doctor and fell ill for seven weeks.
She returned to work in November and continued to let her work judge because she was supposed not to manage her time properly.
The housing officer had her first seizure in July 2021, which she believed was caused by stress at work.
She was diagnosed with dissociative attacks – episodes that ensure that someone solves her eyes in his head and speech problems – as a result of 'delayed psychological trauma'.
After this, Gilbert regularly started referring to her as 'Regan' and sent her photos of the girl's movie that foamed green things from her mouth and floating from the bed.
The Tribunal, held in Croydon, heard that Miss Friend started working for Kent-based MHS Homes in 2018 as a customer connection officer (stock photo)
Miss -friend told the tribunal that she “felt terrible” when her boss called her this because she was a Christian and believed in demonic property.
She added that Mrs. Gilbert is 'constantly mocked' and that the idea that she had an 'angry spirit' in her stayed psychologically with her.
The tribunal thought that these comments were 'offensive' and 'completely inappropriate' of a manger and they were 'painful' for Miss Friend.
She was signed again in April 2022 and did not return and was eventually dismissed for health grounds in February 2024.
In the tribunal, she won claims for discrimination and intimidation of the disabled and not failing reasonable adjustments, but claims that her resignation was discriminatory and unfair.
Employment judge Philip Tsamados said: 'We believe that such name calls and sending such images are both undesirable and offensive, also completely inappropriate in the circumstances, in particular of a line manager.
'We can imagine how hurtful and painful [Miss Friend] Would find this especially given the attacks she experienced. '
Her compensation will be determined at a later time.
