A trucker lost his job after he blacked out while driving and crashed a company pick-up, an employment tribunal heard.

But the company had unfairly dismissed Derek King, who was unlikely to have suffered more black-outs, the tribunal ruled.

After the accident, in June last year, Mr King returned to Wix-based MT Smith where he carried out non-driving jobs. But four months later he was given one week's notice to quit.

Mr King, 62, of Struan Grove, Little Clacton, brought an action of unfair dismissal against the firm at a Bury St Edmunds hearing yesterday.

Mr King said its director, Mick Smith, had told him he could continue duties within the yard "as long as work was available".

But the company insisted it had only kept him on while the results of medical tests were prepared. They finally gave Mr King his notice after discovering his heavy vehicle licence had been suspended for five years.

Mary Anne Fedeyko, for King, said that after the accident he had gone for a number of medical tests which gave him a clean bill of health.

She said: "The company has said that Mr King had to stop working because he was liable to black-outs."

Mrs Fedeyko highlighted a medical report stating this was unlikely.

The tribunal ruled that MT Smith - which already paid Mr King more than £1,000 when he left - must give him a further £6,800.

Angela Brazier, the company's office manager, said Mr King was well aware he could no longer work at the firm because his licence had been suspended.

"I think he was fairly treated. There was consultation. He knew the termination of his employment was hanging there."

She said that although drivers worked in the yard while not on the road, the company did not employ anyone solely on that basis.

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