Mr Jason Parsons v Milton Keynes College — 2026

Employment Judge Graham dismissed Mr Jason Parsons's disability discrimination proceedings against Milton Keynes College in full at the preliminary hearing on 17 July 2026. The complaints included reasonable adjustments and harassment. The dismissal was under Rule 47 because Mr Parsons did not attend and the hearing could not proceed in his absence; the tribunal did not determine the substantive merits.

Mr Parsons had been directed to disclose medical records, produce a disability impact statement and provide further information about his reasonable adjustments and harassment complaints. The tribunal found that only partial medical records had been disclosed, while the impact statement and required additional information remained outstanding. Documents and a 63-page witness statement supplied the day before the hearing did not provide the information required by the directions.

The college had applied on 14 January 2026 for strike-out or, alternatively, an unless order. Mr Parsons objected that day. The college renewed its application for an unless order on 17 March 2026. Employment Judge Tynan issued a strike-out warning on 17 April 2026 and extended the compliance deadline to 1 May 2026, but the directions remained unmet.

The judge was satisfied that Mr Parsons knew about the hearing because both the tribunal and the college had written to him. A check of the tribunal's email inbox found no explanation for his absence. The judge needed to hear from him to clarify his complaints and discuss his continuing failure to comply with directions. The judge expressly stated that there was no power to strike out the claim at that hearing.

The judge considered postponement, a further strike-out warning and postponement combined with an unless order under Rule 39. These alternatives were rejected in light of the previous extension, warning and continuing non-compliance. Applying the overriding objective, the judge considered fairness to both parties, further expenditure of time and costs, and the demands of other tribunal users. All future hearings were cancelled and vacated. No monetary award was recorded.