Car crash victim Alison McRobbie wins £17k harassment payout after colleague compared her to Stephen Hawking

A car crash victim has been awarded £17,280 in damages after an employment tribunal ruled that a colleague harassed him by comparing him to Stephen Hawking.

The incident occurred as Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) work coach Alison McRobbie was demonstrating a new office chair designed to help her stay comfortable.

Colleague Josie Hooper sat on the special equipment and “twirled around” and “laughed” while drawing a “derogatory” comparison to the world-famous physicist, who has used a wheelchair for most of his adult life.

The court heard Ms McRobbie, described as “very sensitive”, may have “misunderstood” the remark. However, the court concluded that Ms Hooper had actually harassed Ms McRobbie because her comment “drew particular attention” to Ms McRobbie’s disability.

Despite the successful claim against the DWP, Ms McRobbie was ordered to pay £10,912 in costs to the government agency after the court found she had acted “unreasonably” during the case.

The court, held in Southampton, Hants, heard Ms McRobbie started working for the DWP in its Universal Credit department in June 2021.

The workout coach, who is currently a social media sensation on TikTok, suffers from arthritis and crepitus in his right knee, right hand and neck following an accident in 2017.

The event also gave him PTSD, which he was diagnosed with in April 2022.

Ms McRobbie asked for some “reasonable adjustments” to be made to her desk and chair in the physical workplace once she started work.

He said his current seat was too low and had no neck support, causing pain and affecting his back.

It was said that while Ms McRobbie was working from home, a chair with a high back and headrest was requested.

After long delays, the furniture was delivered and installed on October 12, 2022.

About 10 days later, Ms. McRobbie came into the office and invited her colleague, Ms. Hooper, to take a look at her chair because she was “really happy” with it.

At the time, Ms McRobbie claimed Ms Hooper, who was said to be “impressed” by the office furniture, discriminated against her.

He claimed Ms Hooper sat in the chair and compared it to Stephen Hawking’s, then “drew faces and made gestures”.

Referring to Ms McRobbie’s witness statement, Employment Judge Catherine Rayner said: “She said a colleague of hers was swiveling around in her chair, laughing and saying I would look like Stephen Hawking in this chair.

“He then made gestures that mimicked Mr Hawking’s disabled posture.”

Ms Hooper told the court she “did not remember the events very well” and “certainly cannot say she did not comment”.

While the court ruled on the balance of probabilities that Ms Hooper was “commenting” on Hawking, it said she “made no facial movements and was not imitating a disabled person” and said Ms McRobbie’s account was “exaggerated”.

“But in terms of appearance, we are also aware of the comparison between how oneself looks and how another person might look while using it. [Ms McRobbie’s] EJ Rayner added that the chair is not flattering or flattering.

“[We] “I discovered at the time that he was upset and that the reason for his upset was a comment linking his chair to Stephen Hawking,” the judge continued.

“We found that this was undesirable and related to his disability.”

Following a “serious breakdown in the relationship” between Ms McRobbie and the DWP, she was dismissed and stood down in November 2025 due to alleged gross misconduct.

The government took his department to court, alleging discrimination, unfair dismissal and harassment.

Court upholds harassment claim regarding Stephen Hawking’s comment.

The judge said: “We have taken into account the matters set out above. [Ms McRobbie] he hadn’t been to the office in a while, he was known as a very sensitive person, and also the comment itself had attracted particular attention. [her] disability

“Whilst we all agree that most people would not find this offensive, we accept that it is reasonable for this to be considered harassment in this case and we therefore find that: [Ms McRobbie] was harassed.”

He also won the claim that the DWP had failed to make reasonable adjustments to his disability.

Other claims made by Ms McRobbie, who represented herself at the hearing, were rejected.

For his feelings, the government was ordered to pay the worker £17,280.

But the DWP also made a costs order against Ms McRobbie, who will have to pay £10,912.

This is being done to “cover the costs incurred as a result of his culpable conduct” as he was found to be “unreasonable and in some respects dishonest” during the trial.

This included exaggerating his colleague’s impersonation of Stephen Hawking.

The court still has not concluded that “the case itself was unreasonable or misunderstood”, so Ms McRobbie’s take home compensation after costs will be £6,368.