Charity boss leaves role after race crime

Susan Dimmock, the former deputy chief executive of Steps To Work, was found guilty of racially aggravated harassment earlier this year.

The Walsall-based charity helps people in the Black Country and Staffordshire into employment.

Bosses at the charity said that following an investigation Dimmock was ‘no longer employed by Steps to Work’.

A spokesman said the organisation had ‘a zero tolerance policy on hate crime and cannot compromise on this’.

Dimmock, aged 52, of Edmonton Close, Cannock, racially abused taxi driver Muddasar Ali as he drove her home on October 31 last year.

She denied racially aggravated harassment, but magistrates found her guilty after a trial in June. She was fined £623, told to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and court costs of £362.

This sparked an internal probe by the charity, which culminated in her exit.

A Steps to Work spokesman said: “After a thorough investigation conducted by the CEO and the vice chair of the board this matter has been concluded.

“As a result the employee is no longer employed by Steps to Work.

“Over the years Steps to Work have worked hard with the National Centre for Diversity to become accredited Leaders in Diversity which reflects our long standing commitment and track record of working in diverse communities.

“As an organisation we have a zero tolerance policy on hate crime and cannot compromise on this.

“It is very important that our employees, customers and partner organisations understand that Steps to Work remain committed to working in our local diverse communities.

“In order to underpin this we will ensure that our equality and diversity training schedule includes mandatory hate crime refresher training for all employees.”

Steps To Work works alongside other organisations in the region, including the Beacon Centre for the Blind, Sandwell Consortium, and Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership.