Binman sacked after kicking head off three-year-old's snowman

29 January 2021, 07:39 | Updated: 29 January 2021, 10:57

By Ewan Quayle

@EQjourno

A binman has been sacked after karate kicking the head off a three-year-old's snowman.

The agency worker was told he will not be coming back to work for Herefordshire Council after Tuesday's 'kung fu kick' incident was captured on CCTV.

The man was shown delivering a roundhouse-style kick to the 6ft-tall creation on a footpath in front of a house, in CCTV footage published by the Hereford Times.

Read more: Binman dismissed for kung-fu kick on snowman tells LBC: It would have melted anyway

The council said it was "disappointed" by his conduct, adding he was an agency worker recruited to work for a council contractor and was not directly employed by the county hall.

The incident happened in Hampton Rise, Hereford, following the weekend's heavy snowfall.

Gillian Howard, an employment law consultant with Laytons LLP told LBC that the council were well within their rights to request this contractor not come to work for them any longer.

Employment law expert explains why snowman kicking binman lost job

In a statement, a Herefordshire Council spokesman said: "We are aware of this incident and are disappointed that an individual representing the council would behave in such a manner.

"The employee was a member of agency staff working on behalf of one of the council's contractors, and he has been informed that he will not be used again.

"Information has also been circulated to all agency employees outlining the professional standards they are expected to uphold when representing a Herefordshire Council contractor."