A REDDITCH mobile phones firm faces paying a former employee compensation for unfair dismissal after accusing him of being involved in discrepancies totalling £190.

Phonebox Communications Ltd, of the Kingfisher Centre, failed to carry out the correct procedure in accordance with the Employment Act in sacking Richard Haddock, a Birmingham Employment Tribunal decided.

Mr Haddock who was relief manager at the Redditch firm, denied he was responsible for the discrepancies.

The tribunal was told that on one occasion £40 had not been accounted for in petty cash and on another occasion two sales had not been invoiced, worth £35.

The firm said there had previously been a shortfall in money and Mr Haddock had been given verbal warnings. He was eventually sacked for wilful negligence.

Mr Haddock said he believed he was unfairly dismissed because he had not been responsible for what had happened.

He said he had been praised for his work and had been promoted to senior sales status which the firm denied. His salary was £15,000 plus commission.

Mr Haddock complained he had not been trained for a new sales system introduced by the firm. As a result he was not familiar with it.

Tribunal chairman Peter Gilroy said the management genuinely believed Mr Haddock had been involved in misconduct.

"But the management showed complete disregard for the regulation procedures in dismissing him", said Mr Gilroy.

"The person who carried out the investigation into the discrepancies was also the judge and jury and no details were recorded during the proceedings."

Mr Gilroy said Mr Haddock had been unfairly dismissed on a technicality and that the amount of compensation would be decided at a later date.