A mother is considering legal action against a firm which sacked her teenage son after a week - then took more than half his wage.

Martin Hefferman expected £142 in his pay packet from Sheibarg Manufacturing and Trading Co Ltd - but £81 was taken as "miscellaneous deductions".

Now furious mother Patricia says she will be seeing a solicitor to find out if she can take action against the Cutler Heights Lane canning firm.

But the company says he signed an application and interview form containing a paragraph giving permission to deduct three days' wages if the employee wished to leave within 12 weeks.

Mrs Hefferman, of Dick Lane, Tyersal, Bradford, said her son and a friend, Steven Stead, started at the firm on August 2 but at the end of their first week the17-year-olds were told they were "not suitable".

She said: "When we got his wage slip he should have had £142 but he came out with £61 - he didn't pay any tax or National Insurance.

"They told me it was for training, but Martin said all they did was to tell him to ask someone on the line and they would show him what to do."

She said: "Then they said it was for the administrative costs but they refused to break that down.

"I pointed out that he didn't wish to leave - they said he was unsuitable - so it didn't apply. But they said it did."

Mrs Hefferman said she was told Martin was always late, did not do as he was told and was not a hard worker - allegations he denies.

She said: "Surely they can't just take his money like that?

"The company says someone went through it with him and Steven, but they say no one mentioned it to them at any time."

Solicitor Philip Bagley, of Bradford firm Read Dunn Connell, said: "What the company has done it is entitled to do if both parties agree to something being deducted.

"But the clause does say 'should you wish to leave your employment' and in this case it would appear that the clause does not apply."

A Department of Trade spokesman said: "In cases like this the individual would have the right to go to an employment tribunal because it is a matter of deductions from pay."

Sheibarg director Garry Plant said all new employees underwent an induction during which time the paragraph was explained to them.

Despite repeated requests from the Telegraph & Argus he did not make any comments on the case of the two boys.

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