THE man sacked by catering giant Compass amid allegations of corruption at the United Nations lives in a York village, the Evening Press can reveal today.

We tracked down Peter Harris to his £1.25 million luxury detached home in Hodgson Lane, Upper Poppleton, which was recently revealed as the most expensive street in the York area.

Mr Harris, 47, who has lived in the village for several years, was dismissed as the boss of Compass's UK division, along with two other staff, after an investigation into how UN contracts were awarded raised "serious concerns".

Mr Harris, who also headed operations in the Republic of Ireland, Middle East and Africa, was suspended from work two weeks previously.

It followed an investigation by law firm Freshfields on behalf of Compass, the world's biggest contract caterer, into the relationship between its Eurest Support Services (ESS) subsidiary, the United Nations and IHC - a supplier to the UN.

Mr Harris, a former chief executive of ESS, moved to York House in 2002, after previously living in a neighbouring property.

He has a wife, Anna, and a son, and neighbours said the family "kept themselves to themselves"

According to media reports, international investigators want to know if there are links between ESS and Alexander Yakovlev, a UN procurement officer who was arrested in August on suspicion of corruption.

When we called at Mr Harris's home for a comment, a middle-aged man, believed to be a family member, said he was not available.

"If we've got anything to say we will get in touch," the man said.

"That is all we've got to say."

An acquaintance of Mr Harris, who asked not to be named, said the family were private and did not get involved in village life.

The Harris's luxury home is believed to have 20 rooms. It sparked a dispute when previous owner Simon Morgan was found to have built a roof ridge higher than planning permission allowed. When councillors refused retrospective planning permission, a Government planning inspector was called in and overruled the decision, costing the council £18,000.

The website, www.mouseprice.com, has revealed Hodgson Lane to be the priciest road in the York area, with most properties selling for nearly £600,000. Land Registry information shows that Mr Harris's home is worth £1.25 million.

A spokeswoman for the Compass Group said: "On October 21 the company announced that it had instructed Freshfields to conduct an investigation into the relationships between ESS, IHC and the United Nations.

"The investigation has raised serious concerns as to whether, within ESS, there has been, in connection with IHC and the UN, improper conduct and a failure to comply with the company's statement of business principles."

"As a result, Peter Harris, whose suspension was announced on 21 October, is being dismissed".

Updated: 10:57 Saturday, November 12, 2005