Postman, 59, sacked for sticking gum on a gate lantern is awarded more than £17,000 in compensation 

A postman who was sacked for sticking his chewing gum on a customer’s gate lantern, has won £17,000 compensation.

The 59-year-old postie – called G Harvey – had worked for Royal Mail for more than 25 years and he delivered mail on rural rounds from the Prestonpans office in Scotland.

The customer complained to his bosses about what was captured on CCTV.

The CCTV was emailed to Royal Mail bosses describing how Mr Harvey had removed the chewing gum from his mouth and stuck it on the gate lantern, calling it ‘disgusting’ but saying they did not want to make a fuss.

The CCTV also showed him driving off without wearing his seatbelt and with mail on the front passenger seat.

Mr Harvey was called in and admitted the seatbelt and mail offences but lied about the chewing gum incident because he ‘panicked’.

But he later said it had been ‘a stupid decision’, said he had done it a couple of times before and offered to apologise to the customer.

The Scottish employment tribunal heard evidence that 50% of posties drive around on their rounds without wearing seat belts every day

But bosses did not follow the proper procedure and Mr Harvey was suspended and later sacked.

The Scottish employment tribunal heard evidence that 50% of posties drive around on their rounds without wearing seat belts every day.

The tribunal panel found the postman to be a credible witness and ruled he was unfairly dismissed and he was paid £17,244 compensation.