A sacked railway worker has been awarded £25,000 compensation by an employment tribunal.

Anthony Trice, of Stanhope in Ashford, was dismissed by Southeastern after making an unauthorised ticket sale at Paddock Wood railway station.

Although it was accepted the 54-year-old had acted against the rules, a tribunal has now ruled the company's decision to sack him was "outside a reasonable range of responses" in the circumstances.

The incident which sparked his dismissal happened in January 2018 when Mr Trice was on light duties following a broken ankle.

He had usually worked the ticket gates at Ashford International, but had been assigned to a new role at Paddock Wood when he found himself alone in the ticket office.

A colleague had left the window unattended and so when a passenger requested a ticket, Mr Trice sold one, despite not being authorised to do so.

At an internal disciplinary meeting he later admitted he had acted incorrectly, but despite showing contrition for his action he was dismissed.

Reacting to the award of compensation by the tribunal, the father-of-seven said he was glad to finally be able to move on.

"I'm just glad it is all over and done with," he said. "It has cleared my name and I have moved on now."

The colleague who had left their post in the ticket office to go to the shop, despite also breaking the rules, was only given a warning.

In finding Mr Trice had been wrongfully dismissed, the tribunal said: "We agree that the Claimant’s actions constituted misconduct and warranted at least a warning but we do find it outside the reasonable range to dismiss.

"The Claimant’s motive was to assist a customer, albeit misguided, and there was clear contrition and acceptance he should do differently in future."

Instead of dismissing Mr Trice from his position, the tribunal said Southeastern should have provided further training. The company has said it will be reviewing its processes in light of the ruling.

Read more: All the latest news from Paddock Wood

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