Advice please

[dba3087108]

My previous employer has been telling people I know that I have stole equipment off him. I briefly worked with him as a gardener and he is telling my friends and family I have stolen gardening equipment off him. This is absolute total lies. What makes it more hurtful is that he was round my house last week being pally with me. I'm hurt and shocked and this isn't the first time this has happened. The first time I let it off that he was young and a bit immature.

What can I do about this. I realise this might be trivial to some people.

[Steve H]

Confronting him might be the obvious option.


Or if you’re a gardener there’s always frozen sausages.

[dba3087108]

Is this harassment or something else. I want to teach him a lesson and get the police on to him. This has really fked me off.

[megaphone]

What did you steal and what was the value?

[Steve H]

dba3087108 said:

Is this harassment or something else. I want to teach him a lesson and get the police on to him. This has really fked me off.

Seriously?

[dba3087108]

Laptop lawnmower and hand tools roughly £1500 of stuff.

[QBee]

It's defamation, but that is for the civil courts, and will cost you a fortune in legal fees.
The civil courts are the domain of the wealthy.

Sad to say, and I do feel for you, but there's not a lot you can do other than confront him and ask him nicely to stop it.

[Collectingbrass]

With the caveat that the best way to make a small fortune is to start with a big one and sue someone, if he is giving future employers a false reference he could be at risk of being sued by you. That's why big corporates will only allow HR to give employed as X job title between dates Y & Z as references and no more.

As others have said, start with a polite request, and be prepared to apologise for what ever you did do to him, and then if he continues get a cease & desist letter from a lawyer, if you can afford it.

[Simpo Two]

Steve H said:

Confronting him might be the obvious option.

This. Solve it at source. But do it nicely; if you get aggressive he'll go into his bunker and make it worse.

[dba3087108]

I've already spoken to him once about a year ago. He came round to my house and told my wife and absolute pack of lies that I had been chatting women up. This guy is bonkers. He has made various stories up about his own parents that are not true. He is a compulsive liar.

[Steve H]

So you want to go legal on the local loony bullstter?

[Trevor555]

dba3087108 said:

I've already spoken to him once about a year ago. He came round to my house and told my wife and absolute pack of lies that I had been chatting women up. This guy is bonkers. He has made various stories up about his own parents that are not true. He is a compulsive liar.

You'll not change someone like that.

Take comfort that the people he's told stories to will know what he's like, and they'll take them with a pinch of salt, or even know he's waffling his usual crap.

[Yellow Lizud]

dba3087108 said:

Laptop lawnmower ...............

WOW I never even knew such a thing existed.

I usually just use a damp cloth but it does sound like it could be an interesting gadget for the office.

[Racing Newt]

Engage a solicitor to send him a letter informing him that if he continues to make false statements regarding your family and work that legal action would be taken against him.
That usually sorts this sort of low level intimidation/deformation.

[paul_c123]

Could you return the stolen items, or has everything been sold on eBay now?

(Only joking....)

[Googie]

dba3087108 said:

Laptop lawnmower and hand tools roughly £1500 of stuff.

That’s what he alleges you have stolen….

[Funk]

May as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb - go and nick a load of his stuff?

[QBee]

Trevor555 said:

dba3087108 said:

I've already spoken to him once about a year ago. He came round to my house and told my wife and absolute pack of lies that I had been chatting women up. This guy is bonkers. He has made various stories up about his own parents that are not true. He is a compulsive liar.

You'll not change someone like that.

Take comfort that the people he's told stories to will know what he's like, and they'll take them with a pinch of salt, or even know he's waffling his usual crap.

We all know someone like that - he's on the news every evening and lies every time he opens his mouth.

[Simpo Two]

Racing Newt said:

Engage a solicitor to send him a letter informing him that if he continues to make false statements regarding your family and work that legal action would be taken against him.
That usually sorts this sort of low level intimidation/deformation.

'My character has been deformed! Bend it back into shape immediately or face the consequences!'

[LosingGrip]

dba3087108 said:

Is this harassment or something else. I want to teach him a lesson and get the police on to him. This has really fked me off.

If anyone ever wonders why the police can't deal with more important things...this is why.