A DISABLED man from Flixton was awarded almost £78,000 this week by an employment tribunal which found he had been unfairly dismissed.

Andrew Beck, who has Asperger’s Syndrome and learning difficulties, brought the claim against the Honorary Secretary of Davyhulme Park Golf Club on behalf of the club.

The 44-year-old resigned from his position of labourer in 2007 after several unhappy years at the club.

He claimed he was given physically demanding jobs more often than other greens’ staff, and was assaulted by the head green keeper, Nick Marner.

Mr Beck, who’d worked at the Gleneagles Road club since 1986, told the tribunal he’d enjoyed his work until Mr Marner was appointed in 1999. It emerged during the five-day hearing last September that the pair hadn’t got along from the start.

Mr Beck received two warnings in 2001 and 2002, because of alleged instances of failing to carry out set tasks properly.

The pair’s working relationship continued to deteriorate, with Mr Marner using physical and verbal abuse when issuing instructions to Mr Beck.

On one occasion it was alleged Mr Marner grabbed Mr Beck by the scruff of the neck and raised his fist.

On another he was said to have kicked him on the foot while wearing industrial boots and on two occasions Mr Beck said Mr Marner knocked items from his hand, once a drink and then a rake.

Mr Marner denied any violent incidents took place.

Matters came to a head in 2007 when Mr Beck was sent home from work after complaining of feeling unwell, but never returned to his position, and handed his notice in in November.

The tribunal upheld Mr Beck’s claim for constructive dismissal, and of violation of the Disability Discrimination Act, awarding £25,000 alone for injury to feelings, £25,000 for future loss of earnings, and £5,000 for aggravated damages.

A statement read. “We are satisfied Mr Marner subjected the claimant to acts of bullying and intimidation over the course of several years.

“Those actions are set out in our findings of fact. They led to the complete breakdown of Mr Beck’s working relationship with his employers, culminating in his absence through ill health... they were the principal cause of his resignation.”