Shrewsbury - A police constable who became a woman after a sex change operation was warned against stepping outside her home in female clothing by one of her force's senior officers, an employment tribunal heard yesterday. Transsexual Claire Ashton, formerly firearms expert PC Tony Ashton, told the hearing, at Shrewsbury, that the warning was issued by the then West Mercia Assistant Chief Constable, Mr Colin Cramphorn.
Mr Cramphorn made the remark during a telephone conversation with Supt Mike Smith, who then relayed the comment on to her, Ms Ashton said. "The words I recall were `you can do what you like behind closed curtains but if you so much as spit outside your front door in women's clothing you will be disciplined'," she told the hearing.
Ms Ashton, who served for 10 years as a male PC, was transferred to a civilian post in the communications room at Shrewsbury police station after undergoing a sex change operation. The former soldier and shooting champion is claiming sex discrimination and discrimination under the Disability Discrimination Act against West Mercia Police.