A shoe repairer has won a compensation claim for unfair dismissal on a technicality against a Bewdley firm after being involved in alleged discrepancies.

Craig Cheatham, who runs CRC Developments Ltd, trading as Bewdley Cobblers of Load Street, Bewdley, accused Noel Burns of being responsible for the discrepancies from a cash float and dismissed him.

Mr Cheatham said, however, he could not say how much the discrepancies involved because of the way the business was conducted.

The float had often been under the expected £20, he alleged.

Mr Burns, who was often left in charge of the shop, denied he was responsible for the discrepancies and sought compensation for holiday pay as well as for unfair dismissal.

The tribunal was told that Mr Cheatham installed CCTV and allowed his 16-year-old daughter to help Mr Burns run the business while he and his wife went on holiday to France.

Mr Burns, who used to live in Northwood Lane, Bewdley but has since moved to Birmingham, complained he was being “spied on” by working with the daughter and was accused of walking out of the premises, leaving the young girl to lock up.

Tribunal judge Helen Harding said Mr Cheatham appeared not to take any action against Mr Burns for a long time because of his skills as a shoe repairer.

She said she was satisfied that the reason for Mr Burns’ dismissal was his conduct and that the respondents believed the claimant was responsible for the discrepancies.

Miss Harding described Mr Cheatham as an honest witness who was “up front” with his evidence but said the dismissal procedure had not been carried out in the correct manner.

“The claimant was invited to a meeting about the situation, but not told what it was about or even asked questions about his alleged involvement,” she said.

“Mr Cheatham had already made up his mind to dismiss the claimant who was given no right of appeal and there was no proper investigation.”

Miss Harding said that as a result the tribunal decision was that Mr Burns had been unfairly dismissed. She rejected his compensation claim for holiday pay.

She said she would decide at a later date how much compensation to award Mr Burns for unfair dismissal but warned him that there could be a substantial reduction in the total if she decided that he contributed to his dismissal.

Mr Burns, 54, said he had been unable to find another job.