Woman fired for chronic flatulence

A woman from Leeds Metropolitan University was relentlessly taunted by colleagues about her chronic flatulence, a tribunal heard.

An employment tribunal in Leeds was told yesterday that the woman - who cannot be identified because of a court ruling - suffered from severe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) which led to an embarrasingly windy problem at work.

But far from getting sympathy, she claims she was subjected to cruel jibes about a "terrible smell". And at one point, a colleague mocked her saying: "She opens the windows because she is stinking the place out", the woman's lawyers claimed.

In another alleged incident, her line manager made an "unhumorous bowel joke" to another colleague in clear earshot of her.

The hearing was told colleagues would make "exaggerated sniffing" noises when the claimant was in earshot and that her emails were bugged. But Mr Cole said those claims were "wild " and based on retaliation into the disciplinary procedures that had been started against her.

The woman is claiming disability and racial discrimination against the university, as well as unfair dismissal and breach of contract. The case continues.