Christian wins Facebook action

Mr Smith said he was "pleased" to have won his legal bid but added that "this sad case should never have got this far".

He said Trafford Housing Trust should have "held their hands up and admitted they made a terrible mistake" and that his life had been turned upside down by the ordeal.

He added: "Something has poisoned the atmosphere in Britain, where an honest man like me can be punished for making perfectly polite remarks about the importance of marriage.

"I have won today. But what will tomorrow bring? I am fearful that, if marriage is redefined, there will be more cases like mine - and if the law of marriage changes people like me may not win in court.

"Does the Prime Minister want to create a society where people like me, people who believe in traditional marriage, are treated as outcasts? That may not be his intention, but, as my treatment shows, that's what will happen.

"The Prime Minister should think very carefully about the impact of redefining marriage on ordinary people."

The judge said the "very modest" damages due to Mr Smith was the very small difference between his contractual salary and the amount actually paid to him during the 12 weeks following his assumption of his new, but reduced, role.

A Christian who was demoted for posting his opposition to gay marriage on Facebook has won his breach of contract action against his employer.

Adrian Smith lost his managerial position, had his salary cut by 40%, and was given a final written warning by Trafford Housing Trust (THT) after posting that gay weddings in churches were "an equality too far".

The comments were not visible to the general public, and were posted outside work time, but the trust said he broke its code of conduct by expressing religious or political views which might upset co-workers.

Mr Smith brought breach of contract proceedings, saying the trust acted unlawfully in demoting him. And today Mr Justice Briggs ruled in his favour at London's High Court.

Christian Adrian Smith, who was demoted for posting his opposition to gay marriage on Facebook, has won his breach of contract action against employers Trafford Housing Trust.