Sacked prison custody officer denies 'hostility' during pronoun training

A former trainee prison custody officer has told an employment tribunal he was not "hostile" when disagreeing with a colleague about the use of pronouns.

David Toshack claimed he was unfairly sacked from GeoAmey last January for objecting to calling transgender prisoners by their chosen pronoun.

The 51-year-old, from Fife, also told the tribunal in Edinburgh he believed his daughter, who describes herself as trans, had fallen victim to a "social contagion".

Toshack, a retired army medic, was cross-examined by lawyers for the security firm on Thursday.

He "absolutely" denied that he had been very forceful, intimidating and hostile during a training session.

Toshack was days away from completing his training period with the firm when he was sacked after a meeting on 7 January, 2025.

He was due to take up a £24,000 per year position as a prison custody officer at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court prior to being dismissed and is now self-employed as a gardener.

Toshack was asked about a training session on that date, delivered by GeoAmey employee Sarah Harvey.

During the session, Harvey is said to have asked Toshack to put his personal opinions aside and follow company guidance on pronouns for transgender prisoners.

GeoAmey's lawyers said Harvey found Toshack "intimidating and hostile" afterwards.

Toshack said that claim was "untrue".

He claimed the real reason he was dismissed was he "would not lie" and use incorrect pronouns for biological males or females.

He said he was not a "bible-thumping Christian zealot" but his religious beliefs meant he was not willing to call a prisoner born male "she" or "her".

Toshack also said he believed any government that tried to further the interests of transgender people was morally corrupt.

At the tribunal, GeoAmey's advocate asked Toshack about his daughter, who he suggested was "living as a man".

Mr Toshack said she described herself as trans and was using an androgynous name.

Toshack said: "What's happened to my daughter and her two best friends is proof of a social contagion.

"What are the chances of three children all in the same class all being born in the wrong body?"

Toshack, who is an army reservist and served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kenya, said those who challenged transgender and diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) policies had a "black mark" against their name.

He said that prevented people from gaining promotions or losing their jobs.

Toshack was also asked about his social media use and a particular post where he referred to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg as a lizard.

It was suggested to Toshack that he also used a word in the post which was an insulting term to the trans community.

Toshack accepted it was derogatory but not a "terrible" phrase.

Toshack said he had used "edgy" humour in some of his online posts, which may be considered "offensive" to some people.

But he denied he was "anti-trans" when questioned by GeoAmey's lawyers.

The tribunal, which is taking place in Edinburgh, continues.

This story was corrected on 31/1/2026 following amended copy by the PA News Agency.