A grandma is fighting to clear her name after being sacked where she has worked for 13 years over a ‘misplaced bracelet’.
Janet Olufunke Damiro, 71, has been accused of stealing a bracelet she claims she found on a shift at the London School of Economics.
Now over 70 of her colleagues have written to the university to defend her character after Janet said it was an ‘innocent case of forgetfulness.’
The cleaner, who came to the UK from Nigeria in 1971, told Metro she forgot about the gold bracelet after she put it in her purse to keep it safe during her shift.
University management then asked her about the lost item and she immediately handed it back out of her purse.
Despite profusely apologising, she was suspended and then sacked for gross misconduct at the end of April.
Janet told Metro: ‘I can’t sleep. I have never had a bad record or been to HR before in my life.
‘LSE have treated me really badly. It was my only job and I loved working there. I never expected to be suspended or dismissed.
‘I did not steal this thing. If I see any items I always hand them over.
‘This is the first time in my life I have had a problem like this since i came to this country. It is really bugging me.’
The grandma says she is ‘broken’ by the dismissal.
She has been ‘left without a job, without income, and without justice’ and is worried about paying rent and making ends meet.
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Janet’s union, the United Voices of the World (UVW) Union, has been fighting Janet’s case at disciplinary hearings and has appealed the decision.
Their spokesperson told Metro: ‘It is ludicrous and absurd that someone can conclude she was committing an act of theft.
‘It is common sense. If you were to steal an item, you’re not going to keep bringing it back to where you’ve stolen it.
‘Janet is absolutely horrified at the thought that anyone would think she had stolen anything.
‘The level of scrutiny that she has been placed under is totally disproportionate to Janet’s cooperation, honesty and track record.’
An LSE spokesperson declined to comment to Metro because the case is ongoing.
Janet’s colleagues and LSE students have leapt to her defence.
Over 70 of her colleagues, including three supervisors, have written to LSE’s management ahead of an appeal hearing to stand up for her.
In a letter seen by Metro, fellow cleaners say they can ‘confidently speak to her professionalism and dedication.’
‘Janet has always conducted herself with integrity and consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic.’
A group of LSE students have set up a petition to demand LSE reinstate the long-time cleaner to her position.
The petition says ‘it is deeply disturbing that LSE would seek such sweeping punishment for a minor mistake.’
At a dramatic appeal hearing on May 22, the hearing was postponed after opening remarks from Janet’s caseworker. LSE then adjourned the whole appeal process and has now set a new hearing date for later in June.
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