Mr G Gurau v Claylens Mills Limited — 2026

The claim was for unlawful deduction from wages, lodged on 3 July 2025 with a request for 'around' £3,300. The respondent did not present an ET3 on time. The Tribunal asked the claimant on 18 August 2025 to provide further information to quantify the claim, but the claimant did not respond. On 7 January 2026 the Tribunal warned the claimant that the Legal Officer was considering strike out for failure actively to pursue, requiring a response by 9 January 2026; the claimant did not respond.

Neither party attended the final hearing on 13 January 2026. Employment Judge Fredericks-Bowyer found that the only step the claimant had taken since lodging the ET1 was the ET1 itself, with no compliance with directions and no interaction with the Tribunal. The Judge considered the warning letter of 7 January 2026 had arguably not allowed reasonable time to respond before sanction, so non-response to that letter alone would not have been proportionate grounds for strike out.

However, the Judge held that failure to attend the final hearing, together with prior silence and non-compliance, was the ultimate confirmation that the claim was not intended to be pursued. The Judge additionally found that no fair hearing of the issues was possible given the absence of the required information and the claimant's non-attendance, and that relisting was not proportionate. The claim was struck out.