A SACKED warehouseman with reading problems gave his dismissal letter to his partner - unaware it claimed he had romped with one of her friends.

Don Shaw's life fell apart after the "bombshell" dropped through his letter box, alleging he had had oral sex in a telephone box with his partner's pal.

But today the former worker at Excel Management Services, based at Sherburn-in-Elmet, was back with his common-law wife and four children after winning his case for unfair dismissal.

Mr Shaw, 43, also received a £13,500 pay-out. The couple split up because of all the stress and Mr Shaw was so depressed, he tried to commit suicide.

But today his partner of 18 years, Jan Hopkins, 45, who works at the same warehouse, said she was standing by her man.

A Leeds tribunal was told that Mr Shaw was dismissed last August for allegedly spreading malicious rumours about a work colleague and alleging that bosses were corrupt.

A letter stating why Excel sacked Mr Shaw was sent to his solicitors.

Among other allegations, the letter said that Mr Shaw had admitted to having oral sex with Miss Hopkins' friend during a night out with workmates.

But when his solicitor gave the letter to Mr Shaw, he passed it on to his partner to read because he had trouble "with long words".

Miss Hopkins said today that when she read the letter, she broke down in tears.

She said: "It was awful. I just sat there and cried. I wanted him as far away as possible.

"It's going to take a long time to build up any kind of trust again but having everything come out in court has helped. I know that what he told me was true."

Mr Shaw said he was simply giving his partner's friend a goodnight kiss following a night out.

The company suspended him last May after allegedly spreading gossip about a workmate.

Mr Shaw, from Castleford, said today he was treated like a "leper" and sank into a deep depression after being moved from a "trusted" job to emptying dustbins.

He said he tried to prove his innocence but no-one would listen.

"I tried to commit suicide. I thought I had lost my partner and children.

"I now plan to take further legal action to get my job back."

Excel denied he was unfairly dismissed and said its disciplinary procedure was followed correctly.

The company today declined to comment.

Updated: 11:26 Tuesday, August 13, 2002