A social worker who was rejected for a job after his views on homosexuality was made known. Felix Ngole has vowed to appeal the decision after an employment tribunal upheld part of his claim but ruled he was not discriminated against by the failure to employ him.

Ngole told a hearing in Leeds in April that Touchstone Leeds discriminated against him because of his religious beliefs when they refused him the job as a hospital discharge mental health support worker in 2022.

He had previously won a Court of Appeal case against Sheffield University which had wanted to prevent him from completing his social work degree after it became aware of a Facebook row in which he said homosexuality and same-sex marriage were a sin.

Touchstone agreed he was the best-qualified candidate for the role and offered him the job but, after management conducted a Google search and discovered the legal row about his views, the offer was withdrawn, and he was called back for a second    interview.

In a published written judgment, Employment Judge Jonathan Brain agreed that Mr Ngole was directly discriminated against when Touchstone rescinded the initial job offer but rejected further claims of discrimination around the second interview and the final decision not to give him the job.

The tribunal also rejected Mr Ngole’s claims of indirect discrimination and harassment which prompted the Christian Legal Centre, which supported him, to say the judgment “includes mixed and chilling conclusions for Christian freedoms and free speech”.

During the hearing earlier this year, Touchstone argued that vulnerable LGBT service-users, requiring mental health support, could be more likely to harm themselves if they found out Mr Ngole’s views about homosexuality.

The 46-year-old Cameroon-born grandfather, who lives in Barnsley, argued that his religious views would not prevent him from looking after an LGBT service-user.

In the published judgment, Judge Brain said: “The expression of his beliefs rooted in his religion was a material reason for the decision taken by Touchstone to withdraw the conditional job offer on June 10, 2022. The direct discrimination claim must therefore succeed.”

“I am pleased that the tribunal found that I was discriminated against, but there are so many disturbing comments and conclusions in it as well which leaves me with no choice but to appeal.

“The ruling ultimately sets a dangerous precedent as it gives employers the freedom to block Christians, and anyone who doesn’t promote LGBTQI+ ideology, from employment.”