Manager bullied Halfords workshop apprentice, set his trousers on fire

A manager at a Halfords tyre workshop racially harassed and bullied a 17-year-old apprentice, including one instance where he set the terrified teenager's trousers on fire.

The apprentice, who was Polish, was subjected to abusive and racist language by the manager while training at the car repair workshop in 2022 and 2023.

But the manager, Tony Jolly, didn't believe he'd done wrong, as he pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and harrassment.

Jurors hearing the case at Aberdeen Sheriff Court disagreed, after considering the evidence, and have found him guilty this month.

The court was told that between October 1 in 2022 and February 17 the following year Jolly, of Wallfield Crescent in Aberdeen, pursued a racially aggravated course of conduct which amounted to harassment.

Jolly repeatedly acted in a threatening and abusive manner towards the Polish apprentice, and made derogatory and racist comments towards him.

On one occasion at the Halfords McConcechy's Altens commercial vehicle tyre fitting workshop in Aberdeen he sprayed flammable liquid onto the teenager's shoes and lit it, setting his trousers on fire.

Jolly's final act on February 17 was to spray an aerosol at the workshop apprentice's face and set his head alight, causing injury and risking his life, the court was told.

Police Scotland became involved and Jolly was dismissed by Halfords shortly after that incident, reported Aberdeen's Press and Journal.

After the guilty verdicts, Aberdeen sheriff Ian Wallace adjourned sentencing while background reports are created, but told Jolly that as manager his role was to develop and protect the staff in the workplace.

"It's difficult to understand what possessed you to act in that way and it's pure luck your victim was not more seriously injured," said sheriff Wallace.