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Truck driver awarded more than £8,000 compensation
Page 16
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By Peter Swingle r A TRUCK DELIVERY driver who believed his company vehicle was targeted to stop him giving evidence in Crown Court has been awarded more than £8,000 for unfair dismissal.
Birmingham Employment Tribunal told Bonds Worldwide & Express, which delivers parcels and freight, to pay Michael Perry .€8,131 after the firm denied he had been dismissed.
Bonds. which has more than 50 delivery vehicles, with depots at Birmingham Airport and London, had told a previous tribunal hearing that Perry had left the corn
pany voluntarily for his own safety.
Perry, who appeared at the tribunal with a scar on his forehead, said he had been attacked and the company vehicle was vandalised outside his home in an attempt to "scare him off' giving evidence against an offender at a forthcoming Crown Court case.
He said the incident had nothing to do with the firm, but his employers had expected him to pay for the damage, which amounted to several hundred pounds. Following a dispute with the firm, Perry complained he was sacked after being employed for two years.
The previous tribunal hearing decided the driver had been unfairly dismissed because the corn
pany had failed to carry out the correct disciplinary and dismissal procedure. The hearing had been adjourned to decide how much compensation should be paid.
At the latest hearing, Perry's address was kept secret because he feared another attack. His address was handed to tribunal chairman Vera Jones in confidence.
She awarded Perry E8,131, which included a 20% penalty increase because of the procedural breach.
Perry said he was going ahead with his evidence at the Crown Court despite what had happened.
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