A GRADUATE who stood head and shoulders above other candidates for a job with air traffic control was rejected because of his height, an employment tribunal was told yesterday.

Ben Sargeaunt-Thomson, who is 6ft 10in (2m 8cm), beat hundreds of other candidates to be offered the trainee position. But National Air Traffic Services (NATS) had second thoughts after seeing the results of his medical. He was so tall that he was right off the doctor’s height chart.

He was sent to try the work stations at the National Air Traffic Control Centre in Swanwick, Hampshire. After a health and safety assessment the company informed him that it would be “dangerous” for him to cram his 38in legs beneath the desks.

Mr Sargeaunt-Thomson, 23, suggested alternative arrangements, including a special kneeling seat and modifications to the desks, which the company dismissed as impractical. Soon afterwards he received an e-mail telling him that the job offer, which was subject to the results of the medical, was being withdrawn because of his height.

He is claiming “indirect sex discrimination” on the ground that only a man would be as tall as 6ft 10in. He told the hearing in Southampton how much he had been looking forward to his dream job. “I’ve wanted to be an air traffic controller ever since I was 13 or 14,” he said.

“I am 23 and to my knowledge still growing. Bearing in mind the fact that men are generally taller than women, this is indirectly discriminating against men.”

John Roberts, the medical officer at NATS, who carried out Mr Sargeaunt-Thomson’s examination, told the tribunal: “On conducting this medical it was apparent to me that Ben was extremely tall. He was so big he was off our chart and I was unable to physically measure his height. In all my time doing medicine, Ben is clearly the tallest person I have seen.

“After completing Ben’s medical I spoke to the chief medical officer to express my concerns. My initial concern was that he would have difficulty fitting into NATS operational equipment.”

Andrew Hutchinson, head of recruitment at NATS, told the hearing: “I received copies of Ben’s display screen equipment assessments and they clearly indicated that he would have difficulty using NATS equipment and there would be health and safety issues. I was concerned that it would be dangerous for NATS to employ Ben. I reluctantly came to the decision that we had no alternative but to withdraw our offer of employment.

“The decision was taken reluctantly, particularly as Ben was incredibly keen to become an air traffic control officer.”

The tribunal was told that long-term use of the desks by someone so tall could lead to joint or circulation problems.

NATS has now decided to make its workstations adaptable for taller people but changes will not be in place until 2012. Mr Sargeaunt-Thomson has since been given a trainee position with Eurocontrol in Luxembourg, where the desks are adjustable.

Jane Bunford, Britain’s tallest woman, was 7ft 4in tall when she died in 1922.

The tribunal continues.

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