A Norfolk paramedic who mocked up an email from his boss in an effort to improve his pay conditions was not unfairly dismissed, a judge has ruled.

Colin Homes was sacked from his role at the East of England Ambulance Service Trust after it emerged he had faked an email from the organisation's then-chief executive, Robert Morton.

Colin Homes faked a email from former chief executive Robert Morton (pictured) 
In the email, Mr Homes had manufactured a conversation between himself and the CEO whereby he was promised more favourable pay.

The bizarre incident came during a national pay dispute in 2018 in which the way medics were paid for working unsociable hours was due to change, with workers fearing they would be left worse off.

In the email, Mr Morton appeared to explain to Mr Homes that he and his colleagues would be staying under their original arrangement.

Mr Homes, who was based in Fakenham, then disseminated the email among a number of colleagues,

But his ruse was exposed when trust bosses noticed a handful of irregularities in the email that gave the game away - including differences in writing styles and an incorrect email being included in the signature.

Following an investigation into the case, Mr Homes was sacked from the trust, with bosses arguing he had used "misrepresentation of information to make financial gain for himself".

Following his dismissal, Mr Homes took the case to a tribunal, arguing he had been unfairly treated and that a final written warning would have been more appropriate.

But tribunal judge Jean Laidler disagreed, ruling there was "no evidence" that the email had been sent by Mr Morton and that the NHS trust was right to dismiss him.

In an official report, the judge wrote: "The tribunal is satisfied that dismissal was well within the band of reasonable responses in all the circumstances of this case."