Former town clerk for Barnard Town Council, Jane Woodward, has won her claim for unfair dismissal A FORMER deputy town clerk who was branded a gold digger by gossips after she formed a personal relationship with a married councillor has won her claim for unfair dismissal. An employment tribunal heard the atmosphere turned sour in the office at Barnard Castle Town Council when colleagues learned Jane Woodward had grown close to then councillor Roger Peat, whose wife Rosemary was in a care home with Alzheimers disease. Mrs Peat died last October, shortly before the hearing. Seeing Ms Woodward going on holiday with Mr Peat while his wife was confined, and learning of gifts bought for her by him, the view took hold that Ms Woodward was manipulating and taking advantage of an older man.
Jane Woodward had gone on holiday with Barnard Council councillor Roger Peat
His wife Rosemary was in a care home with Alzheimer s disease before she died
Mr Peat stepped down in May 2019 and Ms Woodward was dismissed later 2019
She took local authority, which had just 12 councillors, to employment tribunal
A judge found mayor Sandra Moorhouse saw Ms Woodward as a femme fatale