The director of a charity which helps deaf people has been ordered to pay £2,000 compensation to a member of staff, who is deaf.

Jayne Fletcher, an employee for Walsall Deaf Peoples Centre, sued the director of the charity, Mr Sanders after she was discriminated against because she was deaf. The employment tribunal in Birmingham heard that there had been a failure to use sign language in Miss Fletcher’s presence, despite several requests.

Mr Sanders, an MBE, has been at the Walsall Deaf Centre for over 13 years.

The tribunal awarded Miss Fletcher £2,000 for the injury to her feelings. She settled the claim with the centre and with another employee amicably but requested to be compensated by Mr Sanders.

Her barrister Jennifer Deacon said afterwards that Miss Fletcher welcomed the outcome of the case. She said: “She is relieved this case has now been settled and hopes no-one else has to go through a similar experience.”

Mr Sanders was unavailable for comment.