St Peter's blasted over MD's sacking

St Peter's Brewery was wrong to sack its managing director, an employment tribunal has ruled. George Wortley, 51, was dismissed from his £61,000-a-year job at St Peter's Brewery, South Elmham, near Bungay, Suffolk on the grounds that he was economically incompetent, that he was having extra marital affairs atthe company's expense, and that he was sending pornographice-mails. Wortley denied the allegations and said he was sacked to save the brewery money. He added that he had been given neither correct verbal or written warnings. Ruling against the company, chairman Christopher Ash said: "The respondents have done everything in their power to undermine the applicant and present a case that amounts to character assassination by accusing him of affairs, incapability and dishonesty. "Much time has been spent accusing him in the most overt terms of being a pornographer and of being dishonest. The dismissal was manifestly and blatantly unfair. No warnings were given, no reasons were given, there was no investigation, no opportunity for him to state his case and no appeal." After the case Wortley said he was "delighted to have been exonerated". St Peter's Brewery's owner and chairman, John Murphy, 58, said he was "absolutely stunned" by the verdict. The amount of the compensation was not disclosed.