A Royal Mail postman was sacked after being just one minute late with a special delivery.

Robert Lockyer, who had been in the job for 28 years, was tasked with delivering the package to a bank by 1pm.

But Kent Live says, though he got there at 12.56pm, Mr Lockyer was made to queue with the bank customers.

He didn't get a signature on his personal delivery device to confirm the item had been delivered until 1.01pm.

And the postie was dismissed after management accused him of "gross misconduct" in relation to the incident, which happened on September 12, 2018.

The formal conduct meeting, which was held in October 2018, heard Mr Lockyer, from Ashford, Kent, had delivered on time around 1,500 of these items in his long career.

(Image: kent live)

But John Peter, delivery officer manager at the Ashford branch, explained Mr Lockyer's "continual failure to follow correct procedures".

The postman since appealed this decision at an employment tribunal but it was upheld.

Sue Knight-Smith, independent casework manager, said "to suggest the dismissal was for being one minute late was not a true reflection of what actually happened" and Mr Lockyer "chose to ignore the noon PDA alert and left the delivery until the last moment" despite being aware of bank protocols.

But he claims it was "unintentional" and "should not have been visited with disciplinary action".

Yet the employment tribunal heard Mr Lockyer's conduct at work had "not been entirely satisfactory" and it was "clear from the evidence that the claimant was a challenging employee".

(Image: kent live)

On May 31 last year, he was issued with a serious warning valid for 12 months for failing to secure his vehicle.

Then three months later, he was issued a suspended dismissal penalty valid for 24 months for failing to obtain a signature and follow ‘sign for’ procedures.

At this point, Mr Lockyer was told "going forward any breach of standards will lead to your dismissal”.

The tribunal concluded: "Mr Peter found the claimant guilty of having made the late delivery, then went on to find that the combination of the disciplinary offence in question together with the recent disciplinary history led to a finding of gross misconduct.

"He also had regard to the claimant’s attitude towards management."

Mr Peter also admitted making a late delivery in isolation would usually result in a one or two year penalty but determined Mr Lockyer should be dismissed after "totting up" his disciplinary history.

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In a statement made via the Communication Workers Union after the tribunal hearing, Mr Lockyer said he was “bitterly upset” at the “harsh” treatment of him by the company.

“I can’t believe what has happened to me – all I wanted to do was to do my job," he added.

“I really hope the union can make this right. I just want to get back to work.”

Mark Baulch, of the Communication Workers Union, called the decision to fire Mr Lockyer as "probably one of the most outrageous dismissals by Royal Mail and Tribunal verdict I’ve ever heard about".

“Make no mistake, this union is appealing this decision legally and, in the meantime, we’ll also be taking up this case with the company at the highest possible level,” the CWU outdoor secretary added.

“If someone actually arrives inside a commercial premises, with the delivery item within the deadline specified, then there is clearly no delay on the part of the delivery worker – in this instance, the delay is obviously due to the unusual procedure of the bank itself in telling our member to queue alongside the other bank customers.

“How on earth our member could be considered to be at fault here is completely beyond me – this is why the culture within the workplace must change, once and for all.

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“We’ve got to achieve justice for Rob Lockyer – we cannot allow such unfairness to go unchallenged."

Royal Mail have been approached for comment.