Unpaid wages, no formal contract, Boss misconduct

[LegallyPink]

Hey everyone, really excited to join the Legal Beagles family. I'm having trouble with my former boss who has failed to pay any of the promised wages for work between March and May 2020. He is a lawyer and I was his PA but as the firm's office entered lockdown I never received a formal contract of employment, despite asking. All I have is WhatsApp messages promising wages, a small body of work - emails, calls etc, and he told his colleagues and clients that I was his new PA verbally.
He spiralled during lockdown and is now no longer working at his firm - presumably dismissed for misconduct - and he also harassed myself and my family so much that the police got involved.
I've sent both the boss and the firm invoices but was wondering if I had any other potential claims and what legal avenues I could pursue? Can you go to an employment tribunal without a formal contract, and should I start a claim for damages for the distress and wasted time?

It's a lot to unpack! Thanks.

[Celestine]

Hi - I doubt you would have much luck with employment tribunal as you were ‘employed’ under two years. The messages and work you undertook would probably be sufficient to bring a civil claim. The key question is whether to pursue against the firm or him
personally.

[LegallyPink]

Thanks for your reply - I am looking into taking him to small claims personally as when I sent the firm the same invoice that I'd sent my direct boss, they said they were not bound by him as it hadn't been through the usual formal hiring process. Basically they are denying all liability. There's also potentially a criminal case against him for his bad behaviour and harrassment - he's threatening to ruin my career.
That's a really good pointer about the employment tribunal route not recognising claims for less than 2 years employment - I'll certainly bear it in mind.

Thank you! I'll keep the beagles posted as the situation and legal journey unfolds

[ULA]

It could have been potentially something you could have taken to the ET even with less than two years service as an unlawful deduction of wages, however you would need to prove an employment contract was in place.