A football fan lost his job at a Rolls Royce restaurant after being accused of taking photos of David Beckham during a VIP visit.

Raff Mastromarino, 54, had his contract terminated with immediate effect after he was accused of taking a photo of the former England captain on his phone - a charge he denies.

He said he was merely sending a text message to his wife Simone rather than taking a photo during Beckham's visit to the company's factory in Goodwood, West Sussex.

But bosses ignored his pleas and cancelled his £21,000-a-year contract, giving him just 10 minutes' notice.

Mr Mastromarion, from Worthing, told The Argus the text simply said: "Sim, guess who I just bumped into here at work? David bloody Beckham and his tattoos. He looks like a tanned yob. The women here are going loopy. Shame you missed out."

Mr Mastromarino, who was coming to the end of a three month probation period, said the noise witnesses heard was when he received a reply from his wife, not the shutter of a camera.

He said: "They confiscated my mobile straight away and they checked it through with me an hour later. There was nothing there because I didn't take any pictures.

"They said to go in the next day and they had already made up their minds - they were going to get rid of me. They gave me 10 minutes to go."

Mr Mastromarino admitted he was holding the phone but said he had forgotten it was in his hand as he stood transfixed by one of his idols.

"I was standing there looking at him in awe and I got a text from my wife," he added. "It made a sound and they pushed me away, thinking I was taking photos.

"I was not even conscious I was there - I was seeing Beckham, I was amazed."

But the father of five said he could not take any photos even if he had wanted to as he would have had to delete pictures of his family to clear the space.

The Brighton and Hove Albion fan said he had been told Beckham had written a formal letter of complaint.

But David Beckham's spokesman said it was nonsense to suggest he had cancelled an order of a car.

Rolls Royce spokesman Andrew Ball said: "The rules here are fully briefed to all members of staff about photographing visitors because it is very important that we can offer our visitors discretion and they feel comfortable.

"Unfortunately this particular employee was witnessed attempting to take a photograph and it was unfortunate but he was seen and was warned and ignored the warning and his contract was terminated.

"Everyone here knows the rules and it's very important for our visitors that they are adhered to.

"If you have a well known public figure and are spotted by four people who believe he was taking a photograph that's where we are.

"He was warned at the time but ignored it and his contract has been terminated."