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A millionaire plumber at the centre of a legal battle over poaching clients has been accused of threatening a worker at a rival firm.
The Standard revealed last week how Pimlico Plumbers, whose clients include Keira Knightley and Hugh Grant, is suing competitor Service Corps alleging industrial espionage.
Pimlico's millionaire owner Charlie Mullins claims that Service Corps, founded by Australian former news presenter Steve Cosser, stole a confidential customer database and illegally poached his employees.
But today a former Pimlico employee, who is named in the lawsuit before the High Court, alleged he had to call police after being threatened and harassed by Mr Mullins after he started working for Service Corps.
Stephen Hennessey, 30, who used to be a £50,000-a-year control room manager for Pimlico, said: "I've had abusive phone calls warning me I'm going to get 'what's coming to me' and that I'll be 'knocked out'. I've been hounded and intimidated and worried that he [Mr Mullins] was going to follow through with his threats. The last 12 months have been a nightmare."
Mr Mullins denied threatening his former employee, before making his own claim that Mr Hennessey had threatened three of his Pimlico staff.
He said: "I don't do threats and I don't do harassment. This matter is being dealt with professionally, that is why I've instructed solicitors. These people need to be brought to justice for their underhand way of operating things. We have statements from three of our staff who were threatened by Stephen Hennessey and one who was punched. We contacted police but decided not to take it further."
Mr Hennessey, who denies the allegations, left Pimlico in September last year to go to Swale Heating in Kent, which was not in competition with Pimlico. But six weeks later he was approached by Service Corps and offered a job matching his salary at Pimlico and with fewer hours.
The move meant he broke his contract with Pimlico, which barred him from going to a competitor within six months. He said: "I wasn't aware when I took the job at Service Corps that contractually I should have waited. But in terms of stealing confidential files and poaching staff, that's complete nonsense. There was no customer database."
Mr Hennessey is now working for a different London plumbing company. Service Corps declined to comment.
Reader views (2)
Why does Mr Mullins need to employ a celebrity Public Relations agent to keep his 'good' name in the press? In my experience Pimlico Pulmbers are over priced and provide a poor service, clients have the choice which company to use, they are not 'poached' and thankfully now there is a company, with a more profssional and cheaper service. Sounds like he is picking on his rivals more a case of jealously?
- Mr P Humphrey, London
I think they are all round the bend !!It looks like Mr Mullins and Pimlico Plumbers are trying to find work for there legal team.
- Mr S.Port, London
