Ex-striker and fans' favourite sacked from prison job
An ex-footballer who became a prison officer was sacked for punching an inmate in the face and hitting him with his baton, an employment tribunal heard.
Ex-Preston North End and Hednesford Town star Vernon 'Big Vern' Allatt was fired from Featherstone Prison.
The 56-year-old was dismissed after trouble broke out between four members of staff and a prisoner 'prone to violence' on June 8 last year.
He was sacked amid claims he used inappropriate force to restrain the inmate and later falsified his account of what happened.
An employment tribunal in Birmingham heard this week how trouble broke out after the prisoner was spotted using a telephone in the corridor but refused to end the call and return to his cell.
CCTV footage of the incident allegedly shows the prisoner talking on the phone, leaning on a broom, but then lashing out as officers approach him.
It is said that Mr Allatt swung his baton around five times at the prisoner, with two blows landing, and that he also punched him twice in the face.
Other officers were said to be holding the prisoner's arms and legs as he lay on the floor.
Giving evidence, former Featherstone governor Russell Trent said he stood by his decision to dismiss the officer after an investigation.
Mr Trent said: "From the CCTV, I could see the prisoner was talking to someone. There was no swinging of the brush. He was animated, but I would not say he was being aggressive while he was on the phone.
"From my experience over a number of years as a senior manager when an offender chooses to use things like brooms as weapons they normally take the brush off the end and use the handle.
"The prisoner has asked to speak to the custody manager. He was angry that he was a on a basic regime because he was badly behaved."
Mr Allatt, who lives in Rugeley, was dismissed by the Prison Service in January this year. He claims he was unfairly dismissed. The prisoner at the centre of the dispute was subsequently convicted of assault in relation to the incident.
Under cross-examination Mr Trent, now based in Wales, said he was unaware that the same inmate had previously attacked another officer who had ended up in hospital.
Mr Allatt, a striker, scored three goals for Preston and emerged as a cult hero in the 1985/86 season at Deepdale.
He also played for Hednesford Town, Crewe Alexandra, Stockport, Rochdale, Bolton Wanderers and Halifax Town. The tribunal is ongoing.
