Leamington patisserie found guilty of not paying wages to worker

And Jennifer Robson, who worked as a full-time employee at Comme Ci Comme Ca in High Street from January to April, says she has still not been paid the money - despite successfully obtaining a High Court writ that it is still owing.

At the tribunal, which was held in Birmingham in August, Employment Judge Lloyd ordered that Celine Vermant, who owns the patisserie - as well as its sister branches in Warwick Street and in Kenilworth - must pay Miss Robson the £1,142.45 that he confirmed she owed.

Miss Robson then obtained a document from the High Court which stated that an officer would be visiting Mrs Vermant to demand the money - and the High Court again confirmed this week that the sum had still not been paid.

Miss Robson said: “She has now swapped all the company assets to a new company called Comme Ci Comme Ca Patisserie Ltd, evading the debt that she owes me.

“It’s immoral, downright disgusting and very underhand. Fortunately I live with my boyfriend and have managed to get a new job, but I could have been out on the streets.”

Miss Robson said Mrs Vermant had fired her on the grounds that she had processed a cake order for the wrong date, but she had confirmed that Miss Robson would still be paid for the work she had done, as well as the remainder of the week in which her employment ended. She added: “Around two weeks later, a new branch of Comme Ci Comme Ca was opened in Warwick Street. I can’t help thinking that my ‘free labour’ has helped to fund the opening. Around this time, Celine also employed a nanny and has been able to afford to go on holiday to Portugal.

“I have kept my dignity throughout this but I am entitled to the money I am owed.

“She knows I have not received the money. I feel deeply disappointed with the legal system.”

Mrs Vermant told the Courier that she had paid Miss Robson “months ago”, despite the High Court confirmation that she had not. She stated that she was unable to produce proof of payment because she had closed her previous bank account and the hard copies were “in boxes” as she was preparing to move the business to a different location.