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Vauxhall driver is cleared of assaulting his boss
Page 8
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A DRIVER FOR Vauxhall Motors who was accused of attacking his boss and threatening to burn down his home has been cleared of all charges.
A jury at Liverpool Crown Court took less than two hours to find Paul Kirkham not guilty of assault. Denying the allegations, he said that he had been the victim of "malicious invention motivated by industrial issues". He was also cleared of criminal damage by arson against his former team leader. Paul Deponeo.
Kirkham claimed his alleged victim and others had tried to get him fired after he blew the whistle on abuses at the factory.
Following the court's decision, Kirkham's solicitor, David Matthews, said: -Mr Kirkham has lodged an application for unfair dismissal.He's very happy with the jury's verdicts and he has been totally vindicated." The court heard that Kirkham was dismissed from Vauxhall in April for the alleged assault. Philip Hall, prosecuting,told the jury that on 10 November 2003 Kirkham knocked Deponeo from his bike and then hit him in the face with a clenched fist before landing another blow in his face. Hall alleged that he then threatened Deponeo that if he told the police he would be sacked and he knew where he [Deponeo] lived. Deponeo alleged Kirkham's parting words were: "You've seen what I will do on £38,000. If I lose my job, imagine what I will do then. I know where you live, and I will burn your house down."
Kirkham. who has no previous convictions, told the court that all the allegations were untrue. He stressed that he had not assaulted Deponeo or threatened to burn down his home. He alleged that he had been "set up".