Housing staff threatened their managers and supervisors and behaved like children as Medway’s shambolic housing department went into meltdown, it was claimed this week.

Promoted staff were deemed turncoats. One earned the nickname The Traitor.

They were accused of working for the Dark Side – more senior managers – while established staff in junior positions refused to change established work practices.

This was the astonishing story which emerged at an employment tribunal in Ashford hearing a complaint by former Medway Council homelessness manager Ray O’Shea.

He is claiming unfair dismissal and sexual discrimination by the council.

Jason Whedle told the tribunal he became known as “The Traitor” after he was promoted in the housing department. He said: “When Mr O’Shea left it lacked leadership and suffered from mob rule, with a few manipulative individuals ruining a good service.”

Mr O’Shea was sacked last May, accused of gross incompetence, while his partner and deputy, Denise Winson, was declared redundant.

The tribunal heard that the housing department had split into at least three factions.

Managers had to contend with staff refusing to do their work, and a director and an assistant director who had no experience of housing issues.

Former managers told the tribunal some staff tried to undermine the department. Two other managers reluctantly resigned to join other authorities.

Mr O’Shea was suspended in October after a row with the assistant director, Geoff Ettridge.

Mr Ettridge, the community services director, Ann Windiate, and the head of human resources, Paula Charker all insisted Mr O’Shea said he could no longer work with the assistant director.

The five-day hearing was adjourned until the New Year. The tribunal will sit in chambers. A decision is unlikely to be made public before February.