Axe attacker unfairly sacked

Axe attacker unfairly sacked

A convicted murderer who tried to attack a work colleague with an axe, while out of prison on licence, is to receive compensation for unfair dismissal.

James Robertson, 50, learned of the employment tribunal's decision from jail, where he is now serving two life sentences.

Robertson threatened the colleague from Preston City Council at an Indian restaurant in the town in 2001.

On Wednesday, the tribunal ruled the council was wrong to sack Robertson without notice after the incident, and ordered the authority to pay him £800 compensation.

Our decision to dismiss Jim Robertson was based on the council's concern to protect the public and its employees

Jim Carr, Preston City Council

The employment tribunal in Manchester heard the restaurant incident happened after Robertson got in to an argument with a colleague at Preston town hall.

Robertson had to return to jail to continue his life sentence, after he was convicted in connection with the incident at the Maharajah restaurant in Preston.

He was also given five years for affray and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.

He later had a second life sentence imposed, after he was convicted of attempting to rape an 18-year-old girl who had just left a nightclub in the city.

Robertson, from Deepdale in Preston, had worked as a senior health inspector at the council for 10 years, after serving 13 years of his original life sentence.

The hearing was told that Robertson had been jailed for kicking a man to death in Glasgow in 1971.

'Shocking' decision

The tribunal ordered the council to pay him £807.50, the equivalent of two weeks' wages, for breach of contract over his dismissal.

Jim Carr, chief executive of Preston City Council, said he was "shocked and very disappointed" at the decision.

Following the result he said: "Our decision to dismiss Jim Robertson was based on the council's overriding concern to protect the public it serves and its own employees.

"We believe... we made the right decision for the right reasons."

He said the council was considering its options, but the cost of an appeal would outweigh that of the award.