Red Bull was overdosed by a driver test examiner, who ended up in the hospital with a number of large pills before his shift.
Alan Leslie, 62, had to be treated at A&E after downing the energy drink over two days left him suffering ‘intense abdominal pains’.
An ex-police officer had trouble falling asleep and was spooked when he nearly missed a turnabout. He began purchasing large amounts of the caffeinated beverage.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), he told his supervisors that he was having a couple of large canned’ each day and had ‘plenty’ of cans.
However, after finishing his shift, the patient was required to visit the hospital because he’d taken too much caffeine. The doctor released him at 3.30 am on the following morning.
His Red Bull binging was considered a ‘necessary’ act by Croydon Employment Tribunal, London.
Following his successful lawsuit against DVSA, Leslie was able to reveal the health effects of energy drinks after he won the case for discrimination and unfair dismissal.
Driving test examiner Alan Leslie, 62, had to be treated at A&E after downing the energy drink over two days left him suffering ‘intense abdominal pains’ (file photo)
He was told that he became a DVSA new examiner at Burgess Hill in East Sussex in October 2015 after a career as a police officer and Ministry of Justice.
According to the tribunal, he was suffering from anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
After complaining of being ‘openly bullying’ at an exam centre, in November 2017, he clashed with bosses. He was eventually transferred to Hastings.
Two female coworkers ridiculed him for a maneuver he performed during a test.
He felt his mental state was getting worse and believed that he had been subject to a “prolonged, pernicious campaign for ostracism” which he thought threatened his safety and health.
M. Leslie experienced multiple absences due to illness during his career.
After a performance review in August 2018, he experienced anxiety, which led to Red Bull’s episode.
According to a tribunal report, his mental health also suffered from this exchange. He had more difficulty sleeping.
“He lost focus on his journey to work and was unable to concentrate. The accident was almost fatal.
“He called.” [line manager Nicola McLaren]To let her know he was concerned about his tiredness.
An ex-police officer had trouble falling asleep and was spook by an almost-miss on roundabout. So he started buying large quantities of the caffeinated beverage (file Photo).
Ms McLaren recommended that he return to occupational health for a review.
Mr Leslie replied: ‘My concern at the moment is the next two days* Places to stop are minimal. Red Bull is my favorite drink. I will buy plenty this evening, and make sure I have at least two large cans of it before I start each day.
“That was not a smart approach,” the tribunal’s report stated.
‘After work, after only two more days of work, he had intense abdominal pains and had to go to A&E, which he left at 3.30 am.
“They said it was due to an excessive intake of caffeine. He was determined to not take any time off from work, putting his job at danger, and that is what led to the root problem.
His absences were not a one-off event. The bosses became fed up with Leslie’s refusal to end his old complaints about the treatment he received.
Although he had been declared fit for work, he told his bosses that he wanted to go back to work. However, he was fired in May 2019. His bosses claimed that he refused to forget the past even though he agreed to it.
Eoin Fowell, an Employment Judge, found that Mr Leslie was wrongfully fired and had discriminated because of his disability.
Judge Fowell stated: “The entire approach and reasoning justifying the dismissal were misguided. It was too focused on the question of leaving the past behind.
“The emphasis by the agency upon his move on from prior events, along with their concern that him not letting them go and continuing to argue and absorb management’s time (possibly causing more absences), seem to amount to a decision of dismissal.
At a later hearing, Mr Leslie will receive compensation for other discrimination claims and harassment.