AN ALCESTER man who complained he returned from sick leave to find he had been demoted from his job as transport and purchasing executive to handling quotes for roofing has been awarded nearly £12,000.

The award was made to Andrew Braziel, of Blackthorne Way, at a Birmingham employment tribunal against Newdawn & Sun Ltd of Springfield Business Park, Alcester.

Mr Braziel, 47, had been told at an earlier tribunal hearing that his compensation claim for constructive dismissal had been successful but that the amount of the award would be announced at a later date. The firm had opposed his claim.

At the latest hearing Steve Stewart, who represented Mr Braziel, said: "The tribunal has now fixed the award at £11,700 and the case is finished."

The Springfield Business Park company makes roofs for conservatories. The tribunal had been told at the previous hearing that Mr Braziel had worked for the firm from June 1999 to March this year when he left after his demotion.

He he had been off work from his £24,000-a-year job as transport and purchasing executive for five months suffering from stress.

He said he was depressed and could not sleep properly at night.

When he was ready to return to work he said his job was no longer available and he was told that he could do another job dealing with roofing quotes. He left the firm after becoming upset by the offer.

Mr S Ahmed, tribunal chairman, who announced the compensation award at the latest hearing, had previously said that there had been a breach of Mr Braziel's contract.