A North Yorkshire gamekeeper has received nearly £20,000 after winning a case for unfair dismissal from an eccentric Viscount.

Michael Rushby: unfairly dismissed

A tribunal panel in Leeds has found against Lord Mountgarret, the former employer of Michael Rushby. Mr Rushby has been awarded £19,484.41.

Lord Mountgarret owner of a 2,000-acre estate near Harrogate, was not at the tribunal to hear his gamekeeper tell how his life became intolerable because of his lordship's "intolerable rages and behaviour".

Mr Rushby, 63, claimed unfair dismissal from his post as gamekeeper to the Viscount, who is remembered for having shot at a hot air balloon as it flew over his estate.

The hearing had earlier heard that the Viscount had previously promised Mr Rushby that, when he eventually retired, he would be able to live rent-free in another cottage on the estate.

However later the Viscount changed his mind and told Mr Rushby that he would have to pay rent.

Mr Rushby said he regularly worked a 60-hour week and had never had a day off sick in his eight years on the estate.

Under cross-examination he denied that he had lost interest in the job or that he had not performed his duty as well as he might have done.

He said: "If I could get a job today I would be in it. I love the job and I have been a keeper for 30 years. You don't lose interest at that stage."

Mr Timothy Mellors, for the Viscount, presented a signed statement from the lordship and admitted he could not give a reason for why he had not attended the hearing to give evidence personally.

Mr Mellors told the chairman: "There's nothing that has occurred in evidence today which would warrant you taking the view that this man has been constructively dismissed.

"Our view is that he resigned. His decision to leave was entirely his own."

The tribunal agreed unanimously that Mr Rushby had been unfairly dismissed and that the Viscount was in breach of Mr Rushby's contract of employment.

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