Professor sacked for sending texts, poems and a photo of himself in his boxers to a student WINS his job back after university's 'mistake'
Prof Matthai, now 63, was axed after it emerged he had sent a female PhD student romantic texts and a suggestive photo of himself back in 2017. Deputy President Alan Colman found the university's decision to fire Prof Matthai seven years after the fact was excessive. But this week the bench rejected them all, concluding that Deputy President Colman, in weighing harshness, had not strayed 'outside the range of reasonable discretionary decisions'. But the bench agreed with the weight Deputy President Colman put on the professor's clean professional record following the incident. Among other things, she alleged Prof Matthai had 'sexually and mentally abused her' for 14 months.
Source: Daily Mail March 23, 2026 07:32 UTC
