A KIDDERMINSTER mother-of-two who alleged she faced a campaign "to get rid of her" when she returned to work after having a baby is to go ahead with compensation claims for constructive dismissal and sex discrimination against a printing firm.

Stella Howles, of Talbot Street, Kidderminster, had been employed at Datalow Ltd, trading as Aichess Print, at Hoo Farm Industrial Estate, Kidderminster, since 1990, Birmingham Employment Tribunal was told.

The firm applied to have her claims struck out after Martyn Ford, representing the company, said she had no reasonable prospect of succeeding.

He said Mrs Howles's grievance was that she did not return to the job she had previously been doing before her maternity leave.

He said Mrs Howles never had a specific job, however, and had been involved in a variety of tasks, including operating a printing press, helping out with the artwork, working with the sales team and in reception, packing, making boxes and setting up an estimating system.

He added that, at times, the management found it hard to find her something to do.

Mr Ford described Mrs Howles's claim for sex discrimination as weak. Mrs Howles said in statements, however, that she returned from maternity leave to an intolerable environment, which caused her to leave.

She alleged she was told she would not get her job back and was given tasks more suited to an office junior after previously setting up an estimating system.

"I was the equivalent of a tea girl", she complained.

Mrs Howles alleged the management did not want her back and that after being involved in a confrontation with a director there was a campaign to get rid of her.

"There were a series of petty things - a little dig here and a little dig there," she said.

Tribunal chairman, Robin Balmain, rejected the firm's application to strike out Mrs Howles's claims. He told her she could go ahead with her case at a full hearing later this year.

Mrs Howles said later that she now had a one-year-old daughter and a boy of three.