A LEISURE centre lifeguard was called names and shunned by colleagues during a campaign of bullying and harassment, a tribunal was told.

Louise Stanley was also subjected to offensive language and was not told about potential dangers in the pool area at Blackburn with Darwen Council's Shadsworth Leisure Centre, the hearing heard.

She had salt put in her sandwiches, making them inedible, and was told she was being petty and paranoid when she complained about the way she was treated, the tribunal was told.

She was even given a final warning by bosses for using foul and abusive language and aggressive behaviour when she was involved in an incident with a member of staff she claimed was picking on her.

And she was eventually told she was being transferred to another council-run centre when the problems continued. The 25-year-old, of Buncer Lane, Blackburn, quit her job through stress and won her claim for constructive dismissal at a Manchester employment tribunal.

The Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) in London yesterday upheld the decision and awarded her £2,300 compensation, after the council contested the ruling.

At the end of the case Miss Stanley said: "I'm delighted, eventually, someone's listened to me - the reason I've been doing this is so it doesn't happen again."

The Manchester tribunal had described Miss Stanley as a "very credible witness" who, although upset on occasions, gave her evidence, on the whole in a consistent manner. It said it had preferred her evidence to that of Miss Zilpha Bowden, the leisure centre manager.

The EAT was told that Ms Stanley, now a support worker for Calderstones Forensic Service, Whalley, started work at Shadsworth Leisure Centre in 1996 as a part-time lifeguard, working 30 hours a week.

However, in 1999 she started complaining about being bullied by colleague, Bernadette Appleby, the tribunal heard.

She claimed she had used offensive language to describe her, had refused to undertake jobs with her, had failed to communicate with her and had failed to make her aware of potential dangers in the pool area.

No action was said to have been taken about these complaints although, after monitoring, Ms Appleby was said to have been spoken to informally.

Further complaints were made in May, 2002, by Ms Stanley and two other employees were said to have made similar complaints at the same time, the hearing was told.

She was shunned by other staff and not told important information about shift changes.

Ms Bowden was said to have told Miss Stanley her complaints were petty.

However, it is claimed that problems resulted in her suffering ill health, stress and anxiety and being absent from work for long periods.

Then on March 15, 2003, a serious incident occurred between Ms Stanley and Ms Appleby.

An investigation led to a final written warning to Ms Stanley and the official carrying out the investigation was said to have come to the conclusion that Ms Stanley "was paranoid."

She was suspended on full pay and then subject to disciplinary procedure for using foul and abusive language and aggressive behaviour. She was then told she would be transferred to Darwen Leisure Centre or Waves Leisure Facility. However, the tribunal was told she never returned to work and suffered work related stress.

Timothy Pitt-Payne, for the council said the earlier tribunal had failed to investigate the matter properly and take into account the council's Dignity at Work scheme.

He said Miss Stanley had failed to lodge a formal complaint even though she had been asked whether she wanted to do so.

Dismissing the appeal Judge MucMullen said the case involved "continuous bullying and harassment" and a lack of action on the part of the council.

He said the council's Dignity at Work policy did not displace the need for council officials to take reasonable steps to support employees when they were in difficulty.

"The conclusion that she was paranoid was made without any medical evidence or an investigation and there has been a failure to take adequate steps so she could carry on work."

L