Royal Mail postman handed £5,000 payout after punching customer in the face

An employment tribunal was told that Drysdale instead left the package with a neighbour after nobody answered the door.

A month later, the homeowner confronted the 60-year-old over the failed delivery, claiming that he in fact was inside the property.

The unnamed man, who is about 20 years junior to Drysdale, told the postman he should “do his job properly” and a fight ensued which involved punches being thrown.

He was later fired without notice when the customer claimed that as well as the punch, the postman threatened to get his “pals” to come over to his home.

At a formal meeting about his conduct, Drysdale said he “only punched back because he was being punched and had to protect himself”.

The 60-year-old, who worked as postman in Scotland from 2008, has now successfully sued Royal Mail for wrongful dismissal.

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He won £4,734.36 in damages after a judge found accounts of the incident appeared to be “embellished”.

Employment Judge Shona MacLean was “unconvinced about the reliability” of the statements made by the customer and neighbour.

The hearing in Glasgow was told that a month after the missed delivery, the two got into a confrontation: “The customer was annoyed and replied that [Drysdale] should do his job properly.

“The customer punched [Drysdale]. [Drysdale] threw his hand up in defence, making contact with the customer.”

The 60-year-old said he was “shaken” by the interaction, telling Royal Mail he had been assaulted but continued to work.

The customer and neighbours’ versions of events contradicted Drysdale’s, stating that the postman acted first.

The customer said the postman "threatened him saying that he knew where the customer stayed and his pals would be at the door”.

The 60-year-old was found to be the instigator and was sacked effective immediately, not being allowed to work out his 12-week termination period.

At an employment tribunal, the judge found he had acted in self-defence.

“While I appreciated that delivery workers are the face of [Royal Mail's] business, acting in self-defence when attacked did not amount to repudiatory breach of contract," the judge said.

“I therefore concluded that [Drysdale]’s conduct was so not serious as entitling the respondent to summarily dismiss him.

“The wrongful dismissal claim was upheld.”