After falling from a toilet bowl she was standing on, while attempting to open a window, a school clerical assistant has been awarded over £15,000 in personal injury compensation.
Marie Wallace, 64, suffered a severe foot injury, in the accident and had to endure surgery for fractures and a detached Achilles tendon, from which she has not fully recovered.
At a court of appeal, Mrs. Wallace was awarded £15,900 in compensation after a judge originally decided that the school worker should not have attempted the dangerous manoeuvre in the first place.
However this decision was overruled by the appeal judge, who decided that the city council had breached health and safety regulations by not providing Mrs. Wallace with a pole, with which to reach the high window.
The diminutive Mrs. Wallace was attempting to open the window in order to ventilate the cubicle, as she did not want to leave it in a disagreeable condition for the next occupant, the court was told.
The original amount of compensation had been assessed at £31,800 but the judges ruled that Mrs. Wallace was equally to blame for the accident and had contributed significantly to her own injuries.
A pole has now been made available in the ladies toilets, following the incident.