Mr D McAuliffe v Golf Travel Group Limited Heard at Leeds by CVP — 2026

The claimant, formerly commercial director of Golf Travel Group Limited, brought claims for notice pay (breach of contract) and unauthorised deduction of wages following the termination of his employment on 11 April 2025. The respondent had discovered that the claimant had registered a new company in March 2025 and, while still employed, had transferred 268 of the respondent's contacts and other materials to that new business, and had sent a WhatsApp on the date of his dismissal advertising the new venture to the respondent's contacts and at least one employee.

The Tribunal found that the transfer of the respondent's intellectual property by the claimant to his own new business amounted to a repudiation of his contract of employment, whether express or implied. On that basis the respondent was entitled to dismiss summarily and the claim for pay in lieu of notice failed.

The wages claim was treated separately because wages are protected by statute even where the employee has repudiated the contract. The respondent did not contest the claimant's final position that he was owed nine days' pay, and the Tribunal ordered payment of £1,562.22 gross (nine days at £173.58 gross per day).