'Theft and fraud' accused attacks Avocet bosses after tribunal win

by EWAN LAMB

The one time manager of farming activities for the Avocet group of 'disruptive technology' companies who has been repeatedly accused of possible involvement in thefts and frauds totalling almost £1 million has hit out at his former bosses after a tribunal judge upheld his claim of unfair dismissal.

Now Avocet Agritech Ltd., run by controversial businessman Martin Frost, has been ordered to pay Tristan Jeffrey more than £10,000 following a three day employment tribunal hearing which Avocet failed to attend and was not represented.

We recently reported on the case of Sarah Shotton, Mr Frost's former office administrator, whose claim for unfair dismissal and unauthorised deduction of wages was heard at the same tribunal session as Mr Jeffrey's in July. Ms Shotton was awarded at total of £9,588 by Judge Lesley Murphy, and now both claimants will attend a further hearing so that levels of compensation can be set for their unfair dismissals in April 2020.

Tristan Jeffrey, who told the tribunal he received an annual gross salary of £70,000 a year from Avocet to run the agricultural side of the multi-faceted operation at Harcarse Hill, Berwickshire, has been the target for repeated allegations made against him by Mr Frost in letters to shareholders following his redundancy.

In a written document submitted to the tribunal service last July Mr Frost wrote: "Claimant has been paid, indeed overpaid for the actual time worked.

"Claimant has not been charged with the theft of the items from Harcarse Hill farm though a report has gone to the PF (Procurator Fiscal) involving colleagues of the claimant re the theft of some £550,000 of items. That said, the claimant civilly is likely to be sued for perceived theft involvement as he left the keys in the vehicles which were stolen and attempted to erase the CCTV.

"Claimant is under investigation, along with his father, for another potential fraud from Avocet involving over £400,000".

After receiving the tribunal outcome, Mr Jeffrey told us: "“Throughout this ordeal the Avocet directors have either, lied, blamed each other, or totally ignored all requests for information.

"Eirlys Lloyd, the company secretary, was unable to tell me who dealt with payroll. There were also allegations in company emails which shockingly implied that I was on drugs.

"False accusations of harassment, blackmail, theft, fraud, and destruction of evidence, are all still ongoing, 14 months after my redundancy. These false accusations all because I asked for my unpaid wages, expenses, and redundancy payment.

"Away from my Employment Tribunal Avocet shareholders need to seek evidence showing where their £20+ million investment was spent.”

Judge Murphy found that Avocet Agritech had breached Mr Jeffrey's contract of employment and awarded damages of £1,604.69 for that breach.

Avocet also made an unauthorised deduction from wages and has been instructed to pay Mr Jeffrey £1,917.81 in relation to ten days accrued untaken holiday,

And a further unauthorised wage deduction - non-payment of salary during the period March 1 and April 17 2020 - will require a sum of £7,195.83 to be paid to Mr Jeffrey.

The judgment repeats information given in Ms Shotton's case showing that Avocet repeatedly failed to respond to emails and phone calls from tribunal staff.

According to Companies House records, Avocet Agritech has not filed annual accounts since 2017 with the lodging of subsequent financial statements more than 18 months overdue. The 2017 financial return records assets of £1,001, and the company had not traded during that year.

Former staff have claimed there was considerable confusion over which Avocet subsidiary actually employed them. Ms Shotton's claim was against Avocet Faculties Ltd.