A firm of pawn brokers in Runcorn, Cheshire, has successfully opposed a compensation claim for unfair dismissal from a former employee after employment tribunal deadlines were missed.

The branch of Cash Converters was told during a preliminary hearing in Birmingham that it had “no case to answer” against Craig Tansley.

Mr Tansley had been dismissed over a “cash-handling breach of procedure” after his employment as a General Assistant at the Stoke on Trent branch.

The company objected to the claim going ahead, arguing that it had been registered after the employment tribunal’s three-month deadline. Mr Tansley’s legal representatives alleged that Cash Converters had contributed to the lateness of the claim by switching the hearing to Runcorn.

It was also claimed that Mr Tansley at that point was unemployed, had no car, and was unable to attend the hearing. His legal representatives said “the hearing had been deliberately arranged at Runcorn to delay matters and make the Claimant’s claim out of time”.

The company denied the allegation and successfully objected to the claim going any further.

The Tribunal Judge said “Mr Tansley had opportunities to register his claim in time but I appreciate he devoted his time to more important matters, such as looking for another job. Nevertheless the claim was registered past the Tribunal’s three month deadline and I have no jurisdiction to allow the case to go ahead”.