A man who lost his job because his bosses believed he was skiving off work to go to the pub claims he was unfairly sacked.

Roger Christopher is claiming compensation against telecommunications company ntl.

Mr Christopher, 30, of Albion Street, Brighton, who worked as a surveillance technician at offices in Gardner Road, Portslade, was dismissed for gross misconduct in November last year for prolonged and unauthorised absences.

He claimed at an employment tribunal he was unfairly dismissed. He alleged an investigation was based on inaccurate information collected from telephone and computer records and the use of CCTV cameras to check up on his whereabouts was illegal under the Data Protection Act.

He also accused the company of breaching its own disciplinary and sickness procedures.

The company denies treating him unfairly.

The Brighton tribunal heard an investigation was launched following rumours of a problem with unauthorised absenteeism among senior technicians which was leading to low morale among junior staff.

The company stressed the importance of constant monitoring of the firm's network in case of any loss to the service. The worse case scenario was a fault in the telephone service which could mean customers could not make emergency calls.

Telephone records were checked and on September 2 it showed details of times when Mr Christopher was away from his desk. The firm's CCTV security cameras were also monitored and Mr Christopher was identified leaving and entering the offices three times when he should have been at his desk.

The firm claims he only worked four hours 40 minutes out of a ten hour shift.

Six of Mr Christopher's colleagues were also investigated and five were dismissed.

It was suspected they were going to the local pub.

But Mr Christopher told the hearing he was suffering from severe toothache that day and had to go home after working half his shift.

He admitted going to the pub once but that was only to drink a single brandy to help the pain.

He claimed he told the company he was going home because he was too unwell to work but the firm alleged he failed to notify anyone.

Mr Christopher, who has not found another job since he was sacked, said he was a conscientious employee and was shocked to learn about the investigation.

He said: "I feel my dismissal has been extremely unfair. I needed to leave. It was a genuine illness. I could not continue to work."

During cross-examination, he denied he had regularly gone to the pub for a couple of hours during evening shifts.

General manager Daryll Newman said: "I was not satisfied with the explanation given for his unauthorised absence. There was a lack of credibility. I believe his actions were deliberately negligent to the customers and to his work colleagues who had to pick up the additional workload in his absence."

The hearing was adjourned until October 19.