Give binman ‘snowman killer’ his job back, campaigners tell council

Callum Woodhouse was let go earlier this week for kicking the head off a child’s snowman

(Adam Hughes/SWNS)

Calls are growing for a binman who was sacked for kicking off the head of a child’s snowman to get his job back.

More than 4,000 people have signed an online petition demanding that Herefordshire Council reinstates Callum Woodhouse.

Mr Woodhouse, an agency worker, was informed by the council earlier this week that “he will not be used again”.

It came after the 19-year-old was caught on CCTV destroying a child’s snowman in Tupsley, Hereford on Tuesday while emptying bins.

The child’s family complained to council chiefs and Mr Woodhouse was later let go.

But some have accused the council of taking a heavy-handed approach, pointing out that the snowman was likely to melt anyway.

A petition on change.org reads: “The guy worked throughout the whole pandemic, risking his own wellbeing and that’s what he gets?!

“And for what, a pile of snow.. grow up and give the man his job back!”

The message continued: “Might be you next, if you step in a puddle that might be that snowman’s passed cousin and you're sacked! No income in times like this, shame on you!”

One person backing the petition said: “So unfair to sack him, most likely he has a family to feed.”

Another wrote: “What an utterly ridiculous overreaction to fire a man for kicking over a snowman, especially in the middle of a pandemic.”

A third added: “Completely disproportionate to sack a worker because he kicks a lump of frozen water... Just speak to him, apologise to the homeowner and move on if that’s what it takes...”

A Hereford Council spokesman said earlier this week: “We are aware of this incident and are disappointed that an individual representing the council would behave in such a manner.

“The employee was a member of agency staff working on behalf of one of the council’s contractors, and he has been informed that he will not be used again.”