A recruiter was dismissed from his role on a government-backed welfare-to-work programme for forging a job placement to try and claim extra money.

The consultant, Alex Hall, was two placements short of hitting his monthly bonus with Reed in Partnership’s Haringey Action Team, which works in partnership with the government’s New Deal project.

The allegations emerged when Hall appeared before an employment tribunal in London accusing Reed of unfair dismissal and unfair deduction of wages.

But the tribunal threw out the complaints and ruled that Reed had acted fairly when it dismissed Hall in October 2002.

The tribunal heard evidence from Hall’s manager, Victoria Berryman, and a colleague who said they had witnessed Hall forging a job application using headed notepaper from a made-up firm.

An investigation revealed that the business named on the letter did not exist and that the jobseeker mentioned was fictional.

Reed suspended Hall on full pay pending a disciplinary investigation into gross misconduct. The tribunal at Woburn Place, London, ruled that Hall was not entitled to £375.16 of unpaid holiday pay.

A company spokesman said: “Reed in Partnership’s prompt actions and robust procedures ensured there was no risk to any public money.”