Steve Gibson’s chauffeur mistakenly sent the tycoon’s wife Polly a text calling her ‘f***nuts’

A chauffeur for football tycoon Steve Gibson was fired after accidentally sending a text to the multi-millionaire’s bride-to-be calling her ‘f***nuts’.

Gerry Glover sent the text to Polly Gibson after being asked to drive her to the spa town of Harrogate on the eve of the couple’s wedding.

The 53-year-old claimed he had sent the note – which also suggested the Gibsons were ‘taking the p***’ – in error and had been referring to his dog, who was sick at the time.

But Mrs Gibson replied ‘the damage is done’ and her husband – owner of Middlesbrough FC – sacked him from his £30,000-a-year job shortly after they came back from honeymoon.

Football club owner Steve Gibson’s chauffeur mistakenly sent the tycoon’s wife (right, with her husband) a text calling her ‘f*** nuts’ 

Now, however, Mr Glover is in line for compensation after winning an unfair dismissal claim in which an employment tribunal ruled the Middlesbrough chairman’s claim that he was being made redundant rather than fired for misconduct was a ‘sham’.

The hearing in Newcastle was told that Mr Glover – who had previously served in the military – began working for the Gibsons as ‘senior chauffeur’ in 2015.

As well as driving Mr Gibson – Britain’s 481st wealthiest man with an estimated fortune of £270 million – to and from the airport, train station and to football matches, the tribunal heard he also took the couple’s daughter to school and Mrs Gibson to social events.

On July 13, 2019 – three days before the couple’s ‘lavish’ wedding- Mr Glover received a text asking him to take Mrs Gibson to the North Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate.

The tribunal heard Mr Glover sent a message back to Mrs Gibson which read: ‘Need Dave to come round babe ’bout 1100hrs taking f***nuts to Harrogate taking the p*** now.’

This text was followed by another saying ‘I meant Catterick’ and then ‘Lol sorry Polly talking about pain in the bum dog to Catterick apologies’.

She replied saying: ‘I think the damage is done’ and then forwarded the first text to Mr Gibson who replied with a thumbs up, the hearing was told.

Mr Glover told the tribunal that his message had been intended for his partner and was referring to his unwell dog who was going to be looked after by his brother in law.

However, Judge Andrea Pitt dismissed this explanation.

‘Whilst I accept that the text was sent in error, I found the whole explanation confusing and disingenuous,’ she said in her judgement.

‘I concluded that the reference to ‘f***nuts’ was a reference to the Gibson family.’

Mr Gibson (pictured) hired a replacement chauffeur after telling Mr Glover a driver was no longer necessary

The tribunal heard that no action was taken against Mr Glover and that after the wedding he was asked to transport the Gibsons’ daughter, gifts and dresses to their new home and take them to the airport.

However, the following month Mr Gibson spoke to the chauffeur on the phone and told him he was being made redundant.

At the tribunal, lawyers for the multi-millionaire argued that he genuinely did not need someone to drive him around so much any more.

However, the hearing was shown evidence that another chauffeur had been given work shortly afterwards.

Describing the redundancy explanation as a ‘sham’, Judge Pitt said Mr Glover’s dismissal was actually a result of misconduct relating to the ‘f***nuts’ text message.

Finding Mr Gibson’s company Bulkhaul Ltd guilty of unfair dismissal, she ordered for compensation to be decided at a later hearing.