A Christian nursery worker, who filed a discrimination claim against her former employer after being dismissed for telling a lesbian colleague that being gay is a sin, has won her case.

Sarah Mbuyi, 31, was sacked by Newpark Childcare in Shepherd’s Bush, west London, for gross misconduct.

The Watford Employment Tribunal ruled that she had not been treated fairly and that the decision to sack her may have been made on ‘assumptions about her and her beliefs’, the Guardian reported.

Mbuyi, a Belgian national from Tottenham, north London, denied harassment and maintained that her colleague who was at the time angry she had been barred from marrying her partner in a church, approached her asking about religion and same-sex marriage.

It found that there was little or no evidence to suggest Mbuyi targeted her colleague in an attempt to force her faith on her.

Mbuyi, who now works as a nanny, was represented by The Christian Legal Centre (CLC).

Andrea Minichello Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said the case exemplified what she called ‘oppressive cultural correctness’.

‘Sharing Biblical truths out of genuine love for colleagues is being outlawed in the workplace by an oppressive "cultural correctness". There is a culture of fear which shuts down freedom of speech and the expression of faith.’

The tribunal added that Mbuyi’s belief is ‘worthy of respect in a democratic society, is not incompatible with human dignity and is not in conflict with the fundamental rights of others’.

It also said the employer’s policy that there was a ‘prohibition on employees expressing adverse views on homosexuality and/or describing homosexuality as a sin’ would have a ‘disparate impact on Christians holding similar views to Miss Mbuyi on the biblical teachings on practicing homosexuality. That is not merely because a significantly higher proportion of Christians would hold such views but also because many evangelical Christians feel their faith compels them to share it.’

She said she had ‘only ever responded to questions that my colleague asked me and wanted the very best for her.’

On the outcome, she said, ‘I hope that my previous employer and colleagues are well and will understand from this that my intention was for their best.’

Tiffany Clutterbuck, a director of Newpark Childcare, was quoted by the Sunday Times as saying that she was disappointed by the ruling.

‘We have robust policies and rules to ensure our nursery is inclusive and supportive for our children and staff and we took the decision to dismiss Miss Mbuyi with a view to protecting that culture.

‘However, the tribunal found Miss Mbuyi’s actions were not harassment of a gay colleague and that she was entitled to express her religious beliefs in the workplace in the context of the conversation which took place. Our priority will always be to provide an environment where every child feels like he or she belongs.’