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Stephen Bowcott, Amec鈥檚 former construction managing director, was sacked for allegedly covering up the award of up to 拢250,000 of public relations contracts to a woman he was in a relationship with, it emerged this week.

Bowcott married Denise Johnstone, who owns Image Communications in Liverpool, last month after a two-year relationship. The couple met at Bowcott鈥檚 former employer Mowlem, where Johnston undertook PR work for its northern building division, and Bowcott looked after Mowlem鈥檚 southern division.

Amec claims it became aware of the relationship in 鈥渞ecent months鈥�. It is understood that while the couple were on honeymoon last month Amec ordered auditors into Bowcott鈥檚 office to scrutinise accounts and paperwork.

After an internal appeals process, he was dismissed last week. Amec said he was dismissed for a 鈥渂reach of our code of business conduct鈥�. The spokesperson said he was sacked for 鈥渇ailing to disclose to his line manager Mike Straughan a conflict or potential conflict of interest in relations to a personal and business relationship, namely the procurement of communications and public relations services from a company owned by his now wife.鈥�

The spokesperson said it was not for Amec to comment on Bowcott鈥檚 next move but that as far as he was aware the company had not received any legal proceedings from the former construction boss. The statement said: 鈥淎s far as we are concerned the matter is closed, although we will respond if the situation develops.鈥�

Sources close to Bowcott said his previous line manager, Carlos Reva, had been informed verbally that Bowcott was in a relationship with Johnstone. However, a source close to Amec said Reva was contacted during the investigation and that he had said he was unaware of the relationship.

In a statement from his lawyers, Bowcott said that the sole reason given for his dismissal from Amec was his failure to formally disclose an alleged conflict or potential conflict of interest relating to a firm used by Amec since October 2003.

The statement said Bowcott did not believe that he breached any business code. It said: 鈥淓ven if he did, the breach was so minor it should not have resulted in dismissal.鈥�

The statement continued that there has been no suggestion of any financial impropriety, or of any other impropriety other than the allegation referred to above. It said: 鈥淢r Bowcott hopes the matter can be resolved with Amec through negotiation rather than through the legal process.鈥�

There are doubts over Bowcott鈥檚 next career move, as he was expected to take the vacant chief executive post at regional contractor Osbourne. The company said: 鈥淎s yet no appointment for the position of chief executive has been made.鈥�

Johnstone was unavailable for comment.