A German boss sacked his assistant for eating one of his meatballs.

When Magdalene Happ - who had worked for Hermann Schulte-Hiltop for 34 years - prepared a tasty dinner for boss, she couldn't resist tasting one of the meaty treats herself.

However, when word of her snack got back to her boss, the 59-year-old secretary was sacked for theft.

In an employment tribunal, her lawyer claimed "she did nothing wrong and the response was disproportionate."

Herman, 51, has since apologised to his former employee and admits he was "not well advised".

He said: "I believe that the punishment in sacking her without notice did not fit the crime and as a result I apologise. And I hope that we can settle the matter out of court without any further need for dispute."