IT IS a profession known for fiery tempers and strong words. But chef Richard Myler found that his anger put him out of his job at a country pub in Cheshire.

A Liverpool tribunal heard that Mr Myler, who worked at the Beehive in Widnes, was suspended and then sacked after a number of incidents, including one in which he allegedly threw a fish slice at a waitress.

Mr Myler had at different times left staff in tears and swore at the pub's manager, the tribunal was told.

However, it ruled that he was unlawfully dismissed because the family-run pub did not follow a proper disciplinary procedure.

But it also ruled that, because of Mr Myler's actions, he was only eligible for 25% of any compensation.

The 58-year-old had had two arguments over two days in December 2003 before he was suspended for a week and then sacked.

The tribunal heard that on Friday, December 5, Mr Myler, of Widnes, had been at work from 11am and, although he had taken a number of deliveries during the first hour, he was not able to start work because the manager, Keith Conchie, had access to the food but was upstairs and unavailable.

Mr Conchie said he was told by one of the waitresses that Mr Myler had informed the first customers of the day that no food was on - and then told her that both the manager and waitress "were dead".

Mr Myler, however, said that he had actually commented that he thought the manager must be dead because he hadn't come downstairs.

Mr Myler subsequently took the rest of the day off because he was feeling stressed. The next day he returned to collect his wages and argued over a mobile phone which Mr Myler had picked up because he said he thought it was his sister's.

Mr Conchie, however, insisted it was his and they argued.

He told the tribunal: "He called me a thief then he became nasty. He referred to me as a typical f-----g scouse t--t.

"He was standing in my face. There were regular customers in the room. I didn't want to have to physically remove him."

Mr Myler denied that he had said that or acted aggressively.

The tribunal chairwoman, Clare Grundy, said they had sided with Mr Conchie's view of events.

On the Monday, he was then given a week's paid suspension by the owner of the pub, Ken Basnett, and then sacked seven days later.

However, a letter that he had sent asking to appeal was ignored.

The licensee of the Beehive, Edward Whittle, told the tribunal: "He had waitresses in tears at some points.

"He was suspended once in the past, in 2002. He was shouting and threw a fish slice at a waitress.

"He was fine at times but when there were 10 or 12 meals happening at once he became strange.

"In the end I had to take him off the weekends and put him on the early week shift because there were fewer meals."

Mr Myler said: "I did not throw a fish slice, it was a lettuce leaf. They are young girls and we are trying to train them up.

"I always ask them to do three things. Don't put glass in the sink, or knives and check the customers are OK. There was glass in the sink so I threw a lettuce."

Mr Myler claimed that only later was the story embellished to include reference to the fish slice.

The tribunal to determine compensation will be held on June 30.