A STOURPORT team leader who helped provide sound equipment for concerts starring The Rolling Stones and Led Zepplin has lost a compensation claim for unfair dismissal.

Ian Lyon, of Church Avenue, stourport, had been employed by Telex Communications UK Ltd, of Birchen Coppice, Kidderminster for 10 years, Birmingham Employment Tribunal was told.

Mr Lyon alleged the firm’s selection process for his redundancy had been unfair.

“I believe I was individually targeted because I had some days off work,” he said, “but some of the time was on compassionate leave. I was the only one selected for redundancy in my pool of four.”

Dhindja Ranjit, representing the firm, denied Mr Lyon had been unfairly selected for redundancy.

She said the firm needed to make redundancies to cope with digital changes in the industry and said eight had lost their jobs. “Previously, 20 had been made redundant,” she said.

The firm was said to provide sound equipment for concerts.

Tribunal judge, Ron Broughton, said the tribunal believed the selection process had been fair and that the redundancy was needed.

“Our decision is that the firm acted within the range of reasonable responses and Mr Lyon’s claim for unfair dismissal is rejected,” he explained, “but we appreciate Mr Lyon was a hard working, loyal and experienced employee.’ Mr Lyon said he had helped provide sound equipment, through the firm, for concerts starring the Rolling Stones, Led Zepplin, the Spice Girls and the rock band, Metallica.

“I am now trying to form a business making wooden furniture for gardens, including dog kennels,”he said.