A COMPANY boss is “disgusted” he will have to pay compensation to a worker who stole from him.

In 2008, Simon Cremer, his brother Andrew and two colleagues carried out a citizen’s arrest on employee Mark Gilbert, who they found stealing from Mr Cremer’s floor fitting company – In House Flooring, based in Witham. Gilbert, formerly of Colchester, but now thought to be living in Bristol, was tied up with tape, put in the back of a company van and then frogmarched by Mr Cremer to Witham police station with a sign around his neck saying: “Thief. I stole £845. Am on my way to police station.”

Gilbert, who was given a police caution for theft, then decided to sue his former boss because of the trauma caused by the citizen’s arrest. Mr Cremer, of Little Maplestead, was initially keen to fight Gilbert in court.

However, he feared he would have to sell his house to cover projected court costs of £25,000, and he felt forced to opt for an out-of-court settlement.

Mr Cremer, who now runs S P Cremer Flooring, is due to pay out £5,000 in compensation, plus Gilbert’s £8,000 legal costs.

He said: “I didn’t want to pay him a penny. I’m just disgusted with the legal system. He shouldn’t have been allowed to sue.”

Witham MP Priti Patel said: “This decision is offensive and downright insulting to Mr Cremer.

“I, like many members of the public will be, am appalled by this decision and the compensation culture that prevails in our criminal justice system.”

Mr Cremer has thanked the 1,573 members who joined the Facebook page Support Simon Cremer.

Andrew and Simon Cremer faced trial at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on charges of unlawful imprisonment, but the charges were dropped after they agreed to be bound over.