A GWENT senior executive who was sacked for sending a derogatory e-mail has won his claim for unfair dismissal.

Bob Clarke, (pictured) father of England and Surrey cricketer Rikki Clarke, was awarded £32,596 by an industrial tribunal yesterday after being sacked as national sales manager with power firm TXU Energi.

Mr Clarke, 42, of Magor, had forwarded a "joke" e-mail from his son, portraying Arab women as ugly, to regional managers.

"I'm very pleased to have won but I'm a bit disappointed by the amount that has been awarded to me," said Mr Clarke after the hearing.

Mr Clarke was based in Ipswich while employed by the company as a £98,000-a-year senior executive. He said that the compensation he has been awarded falls well short of that annual income.

He said: "In the event I have been offered £30,000 which is only £25,000 more than TXU offered, but at least I have cleared my name."

Mr Clarke's defence team at the employment tribunal in Bury St Edmunds argued the e-mail was intended as a joke and not meant to cause offence.

Wayne Beglan, representing Mr Clarke, told the hearing that the dismissal was linked to a personal feud with another member of senior management and the e-mail was used as an excuse.

It was not mentioned as being inappropriate until 12 days after it was sent, Mr Beglan claimed. Mr Clarke was summoned to a disciplinary hearing for the offence and not given any warning but simply dismissed.

Mr Beglan argued that the e-mail was sent as a "bit of humour" although it was misguided. He said his client was not racist in any way.

The tribunal panel ordered that Mr Clarke should be paid £24,504 for breach of contract and £8,092 for unfair dismissal.

Chairman Brian Mitchell said it was clear the e-mail did not cause offence to the regional managers. Mr Clarke had a "laddish culture" relationship with the managers.

The decision to sack him was entirely inappropriate, said Mr Mitchell. However, his unfair dismissal payout had been reduced because he had contributed to his own dismissal as the e-mail was offensive.