BOURNEMOUTH Council’s equality and diversity manager was racially discriminated against by South Wales Police to a “limited extent”, a tribunal has ruled.

Sam Johnson had taken his claim against South Wales Police Authority to an employment tribunal for his time as head of diversity.

The tribunal heard details of a string of allegations made against Mr Johnson during this time with the police force, which he claimed were investigated differently because of his race.

Most of his claims were dismissed for a number of reasons, although the tribunal found that to a “limited extent” he had been racially discriminated against.

The allegations included the story of Mr Johnson’s relationship with a brothel worker.

The tribunal’s 68-page judgement revealed that Mr Johnson had invited Michelle Dasic to events including the annual Black Police Association ball and a conference on police diversity at Cardiff’s Hilton Hotel in September 2003.

Just weeks after attending the event, Ms Dasic was arrested and later fined for controlling prostitutes at a Cardiff “massage parlour”.

Mr Johnson later told investigators he was unaware of her involvement in the sex industry and denied Ms Dasic’s claims they had used cocaine.

The claim was subsequently dismissed by a disciplinary panel in 2005 but the tribunal ruled the police’s investigation into the allegations was discriminatory.

In 2005, Mr Johnson was suspended by South Wales Police following further allegations that he had lied about his qualifications. He was also accused of using a police phone for private calls and was sacked in October. He lost a subsequent appeal and did not claim unfair dismissal.

The tribunal found Mr Johnson, who had carried out reviews for the Metropolitan Police after it had been branded “institutionally racist” at the Stephen Lawrence inquiry, had been discriminated against on the grounds of race but dismissed his claim he had been victimised.

Yesterday Mr Johnson did not wish to comment.

Bournemouth Council’s Chief Executive Pam Donnellan said: “The appeal relates to the employee’s previous employment and we are not in possession of the details of the appeal findings. In line with our policy, we would not comment on any individual members of staff.”