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  "path": "/2026/04/29/sacked-prison-officer-ptsd-afghanistan-wins-82-000-taking-98-sick-days-28163659/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-29T10:23:31.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "News",
    "UK",
    "Mental health",
    "Prisons",
    "PTSD",
    "Afghanistan",
    "Manchester",
    "disability",
    "News Updates",
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    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source"
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  "textContent": "Morgan Armstrong, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and in Europe worked at HMP Manchester from 2019 to 2023.\n\nAn army veteran with PTSD who was sacked from his prison officer job after taking nearly 100 days off has won £82,000.\n\nMorgan Armstrong served in Iraq and Afghanistan and in Europe worked at HMP Manchester from 2019 to 2023.\n\nBut he was sacked affter he took an extended period of absence totalling 98 days due to his PTSD.\n\nThe Prison Service had served him with two formal notices, but Morgan received two contrasting letters telling him whether he was subject to formal disciplinary action.\n\nAn employment tribunal has now ruled he was dismissed unfairly, as PTSD is a legally recognised disability.\n\n##  Sign up for all of the latest stories\n\nStart your day informed with Metro's **News Updates** newsletter or get **Breaking News** alerts the moment it happens.\n\nBoss Robert Knight argued Morgan was ‘blasé’ about his absence but Judge Phil Allen concluded his mental health issues would have made him appear off-character.\n\nHe said: ‘We would observe that what Mr Knight might have been interpreting was the demeanour that would be expected of somebody with anxiety, depression and PTSD, particularly someone who was having issues with their medication at the time.’\n\nMorgan was suffering from PTSD after serving in Afghanistan and Iraq\n\n## How did it happen?\n\nMorgan had taken 39 days off over three years when his employer said he was given his first formal warning. Instead he was told he will not face any disciplinary action.\n\nDuring a meeting with manager Wayne Howard, Morgan was told he was being given a ‘final formal warning’, but again was mistakenly given the wrong letter, the Daily Mail reports.\n\nIt read: ‘I am not pursuing formal action on this occasion.’\n\nMorgan was told in September 2023 he was being moved onto ‘external’ duties like he had hoped, but was instead placed onto visiting duties which caused a ‘massive dip’ in his mental health and a prolonged absence.\n\nShortly after he was told he had another meeting to explain his absence, and medical reports prepared said ‘it could take a few months until he feels well enough to return when his medications take full effect’.\n\nNo date was given for his return but he told manager Simon Eve he would return when his sick note ran out.\n\nMorgan Armstrong has won £82,000 in compensation.\n\nThis was interpreted by prison bosses as he was completely unfit to ever return, which the tribunal said ‘was not what the report said at all’.\n\nIt took just two minutes for bosses to decide to sack him in a meeting on December 11. An appeal was refused, and he was not even asked if he could return to his job.\n\nEmployment Judge Allen found the soldier had been unfairly dismissed, had suffered unlawful discrimination arising from disability, and that the Prison Service had breached its duty to make reasonable adjustments.\n\nIn all, he was paid £82,067.62, made up of a £3,500 basic award, £30,000 compensation, £41,000 of losses and £7,700 of interest.\n\nEmployment Judge Allen concluded: ‘The employer could have been expected to wait longer for the claimant’s return.’\n\n**Metro** has contacted HMPS for comment.\n\n******Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.******\n\n**For more stories like this,** check our news page.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Sacked prison officer with PTSD from Afghanistan wins £82,000 after taking 98 sick days"
}