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Read the shocking text a boss sent a worker after he quit

by Pablo Soares (2024-04-14)


A former employee has shared an abusive text message he claims was sent to him by his boss after he handed in his resignation at a failing company. 

Charles, who wished to not use his real name, said he left electrical and mechanical service company Vallec five years ago after sensing it was on the brink of collapse.

cathedralThe NSW-based company, directed and partially owned by Tobias 'Toby' McCosker, went under just two months later.

'They had a massive tax bill. They were behind on payments with suppliers. I saw the writing on the wall,' the former worker told news.com.au. 

He claims he received an aggressive text from Mr McCosker shortly after he quit.

'My last message to you is you are a f**king b***h that can not (sic) deliver nothing but a box of farts you price (sic) of sh*t,' it read.

'Any f**king day of the week you w*g c**t.'




A former worker at New South Wales-based electric and mechanic service company Vallec claims he was sent abusive message (pictured) from his former boss after quitting





Tobias 'Toby' McCosker (pictured) allegedly sent the messages to the worker when he quit just two months shy of the company's collapse

Vallec went into liquidation alongside two other related companies headquartered in Newcastle with debts totaling more than $7million.

It's understood Mr McCosker worked at Vallec alongside Mike Arnold, who was declared bankrupt 10 years ago and banned from running his own business.

The ex-employee said Mr Arnold nevertheless held a key role at Vallec.

It is believed they were also involved in another construction company, Workspace One Pty Ltd, which collapsed last year. 

Liquidator Liam Bailey suggested in his statutory report to the corporate regulator that Mr Arnold was the shadow director of Workspace One.

The nominal director was Mr Arnold's wife Kathryn but it was alleged she was on the board in name only because Mr Arnold was banned from being a director.

Mr Bailey also accused Ms Arnold of taking $861,000 from Workspace One prior to its collapse - more than enough to cover the company's $845,000 debt.

She previously said she had transferred the money to her personal account to reimburse business costs.

Contractors who worked with Workspace One last year said they 'never met' Ms Arnold, despite her officially being a director of the business.

'He (Mike Arnold) was basically project manager, he was running all the trades, he was basically the man, everything was him,' one creditor said.

Rhys Clarke from Cools Electrical said he only realised Ms Arnold was the director of Workspace One when his company took legal action.

Mr Clarke added Mr McCosker had a 'baffling' consulting role at Workspace One.

'His title was very, very unclear. I knew he was an electrician. I knew he'd done something in the airconditioning electrical industry previously. But very unclear. It was strange that he was there,' Mr Clarke said.

However, he said it was 'very clear' Mr McCosker and Mr Arnold were friends.

The liquidator's report to the Australian and Securities Investment Commission (ASIC) described Workspace One's bookkeeping as 'abysmal'.




It's understood Mr McCosker worked at Vallec alongside Mike Arnold (pictured), who was declared bankrupt 10 years ago and zaragoza reformas banned from running his own business





Mr Arnold's wife, Kathryn (pictured), has been accused of withholding account information from her business' liquidator

He was forced to enlist the help of ASIC in ordering Ms Arnold to comply with turning over missing documents to the liquidator. 

ASIC filed civil offence proceedings against Ms Arnold last year and she was fined $500 for failing to make out a statement of company affairs and $1,000 for failing to deliver books to Mr Bailey.

Following Workspace One's collapse last year, the Arnolds moved to the Mid North Coast with Mr Arnold now working at another construction company, Alurt Construction, alongside Mr McCosker.

Daily Mail Australia contacted Mr Arnold and Mr McCosker for comment.