Jailed for Forging Contract of Employment
Dated: 01/01/2010
Jason Robinson, 36, who managed a car hire firm in Falkirk, faked a contract and warning letter after a former receptionist accused him of harassment.
Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard that when Susan Moffat was sacked from the firm, Robinson created the documents to avoid paying her £1,750 compensation.
He was jailed for four months for perverting the course of justice.
Fiscal depute Alexis Armit told the court that while Ms Moffat was employed with Robinsons firm from December 2005 to June 2006, she was paid her wages in cash and had never been given a contract to sign.
However, at an employment tribunal on 9 March 2007, Robinson produced a contract of employment and a letter of warning he alleged had been signed by Ms Moffat.
'Certain procedures'
Ms Moffat denied seeing the items and later produced copies of her signature which differed from those on the forged documents.
A later tribunal ultimately found in her favour and she was awarded £29,500.
When contacted by police officers about the discrepancy, Robinson made a full admission.
He admitted presenting the false documents and attempting to influence the judgement of the tribunal and pervert the course of justice.
Defence agent Virgil Crawford said his client had taken issue with some of the evidence at the tribunal.
But, he added: "In the course of the proceedings, he realised certain procedures had not been followed by himself and in particular no written contract of employment had been issued by him.
"By the close of business he knew he would have to go into the witness box and he was worried about criminal proceedings."
Sheriff Isabella McColl said the case was one of the most serious cases of attempting to pervert the course of justice she had seen.
She told Robinson that the system of justice relied on honest evidence and to produce forged documents at an employment tribunal undermined the whole system.
