A NEWPORT postman who went on charity missions to Belarussian orphanages while on long term sick leave has lost his claim for unfair dismissal.

James Cowley, (pictured) operations co-ordinator for the ABC Wales charity which aids orphans in Belarus, had been on sick leave since July 1999 after suffering from back problems.

But yesterday his former employer, Consignia, told a Cardiff employment tribunal while it supported Mr Cowley in his charity efforts, his aid work carried out on sick leave meant he could return to postal work under the worker rehabilitation programme.

Mr Cowley, of Collingswood Crescent, Newport, told the tribunal he could carry out two missions to Belarus, as a medical team was part of the convoy.

He said of his role in the team: "I had to speak with border guards, showing them the documents, and dealing with paperwork making sure we were all together.

"I would then talk about the requirements with the teams and sometimes spoke to the UK ambassador in Belarus about what we were doing."

The tribunal heard Mr Cowley was declared fit to work by Consignia's occupational physician - but was advised against it by his own doctor.

He said: "The two doctors had a difference of opinion, and I went with the one who had been treating me for two years."

Mr Cowley said he wanted to wait for another two weeks to receive treatment from a pain management clinic before returning to work.

Tribunal chairman Philip Davies said the bench had reached a unanimous decision in finding Consignia had not acted unreasonably in dismissing Mr Cowley, or by stopping his sick pay.

Mr Davies said: "The tribunal accepts that respondents, Consignia plc, reasonably considered the situation and were satisfied that the employee's absence from work was unnecessary and the applicant could have attended work."