A REPORTER sacked by a Kidderminster newspaper for being smelly and scruffy has won his case for unfair dismissal after a three-year battle.

But a Birmingham employment tribunal ruled Ian White, who lost his job with the Shuttle/Times & News in February, 1999, had substantially contributed to his own dismissal.

It concluded justice would be met by a reduction of 60 per cent in the eventual cash award to be paid by the newspaper to its former employee.

Mr White said he had experienced significant difficulties in his personal life and claimed he was suffering from depression when colleagues made complaints about his appearance and body odour in 1999.

A previous tribunal rejected his claims for unfair dismissal but Mr White, of Brierley Hill, fought the decision and won his case after it went before another panel in February.

The latest tribunal found the newspaper had moved outside the scope of its own procedures by taking into account Mr White's past disciplinary record.

In particular, a final written warning which lapsed two months before the events which led to his sacking, should have been disregarded according to the company's own rules.