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Grandmother unfairly dismissed from bakery job after underpaying 20p for sausage rolls

 Long-serving Yvonne Hough only had £1 on her when she bought the savoury treats for her grandchildren on their way to a family funeral - Solent News & Photo Agency 
Long-serving Yvonne Hough only had £1 on her when she bought the savoury treats for her grandchildren on their way to a family funeral - Solent News & Photo Agency

A grandmother was unfairly dismissed from her bakery job for 'theft' because she was 20p short when buying two sausage rolls, a tribunal has ruled.

Long-serving Yvonne Hough only had £1 on her when she bought the treats for her grandchildren on their way to a family funeral.

When the 54-year-old forgot to repay the 20p she owed the following day, suspicious shop owner Lynn Pinder quizzed colleagues before launching a CCTV review.

She then accused her of stealing and sacked her for gross misconduct.

Miss Hough has now successfully sued Ms Pinder's bakery in Preston, Lancs, for unfair dismissal - and won more than £3,000 at an employment tribunal.

A hearing in Manchester was told that grandmother of five Miss Hough had worked as an assistant at The Bake-Away since 2000 before the incident in June last year.

The tribunal heard she had finished her shift and gave colleague Lesley Ryan £1 for two sausage rolls for grandchildren Mason and Harley, then four and two, as they came into the shop.

Miss Hough knew she was short of 20p but she 'tried to get out of there quickly' as they were heading to a funeral following the death of her uncle.

"As Miss Hough was leaving to attend a family funeral, she bought two sausage rolls for her grandchildren," the tribunal judgement found. "Miss Hough paid [her colleague] Lesley Ryan £1 and told her that she was 20p short.

"On Ms Pinder's return to the shop, after Miss Hough had left, she asked Lesley Ryan if Ms Hough had bought anything.

"Lesley Ryan told Ms Pinder that Miss Hough had given her £1 for a sausage roll...and said 'that's all you're getting'.

It was heard that Ms Hough 'forgot' to pay back the 20p and the following day, when Ms Hough was off work, Ms Pinder reviewed CCTV before sacking her on the phone.

The report said: "Ms Pinder informed Ms Hough that in her eyes this was theft. Miss Hough immediately hung up.

"Ms Pinder then texted Miss Hough asking her to bring her keys back 'tomorrow' and that she would be given her wages for that week.

"Miss Hough responded, denying she was a thief and told Ms Pinder to take whatever money was owed out of her wages."

The tribunal heard Ms Pinder even accused her of 'deliberately' paying the wrong amount and that her offence was made worse because she had broken a bakery rule by serving her own family.

Employment Judge Jennifer Ainscough criticised Ms Pinder for failing to carry out a proper investigation before sacking her and failing to let Miss Hough appeal her decision.

She ruled that Lynn Pinder and The Bake-Away unfairly dismissed Miss Hough, of Preston, and awarded her £3,061.

Judge Ainscough said: "The dismissal was unfair. [Ms Pinder] did not follow any procedure prior to sending the dismissal letter.

"Ms Pinder had made her mind up from watching the CCTV, Miss Hough's reaction to the phone call and request for a dismissal letter.

"Miss Hough was not offered any appeal and was merely left with the finding of dismissal."