Marjory Cook was delighted to return to her job helping people with learning difficulties after being banned from working and accused of being an illegal immigrant.

But just four months after Brighton and Hove City Council home care support worker Mrs Cook got back to her desk, she says her bosses are penalising her for fighting to stay in Sussex with husband Dave.

Mrs Cook, 48, of Emerald Quay, Shoreham, fought a lengthy battle with the Home Office last year after being faced with deportation back to her native Zimbabwe. In December she was finally given a British passport and in January returned to work.

But when the city council gave up to £25,000 to female workers paid less than their male colleagues last month, Mrs Cook missed out.

She said: “People started being given letters saying they were going to get a payment, but I didn't get one.

“They said it was because my contract changed, but in actual fact nothing has changed. I still work the same hours and get the same pay.”

Mrs Cook, formerly of Portslade, asked Hove MP Celia Barlow to help.

She said: “She had a meeting with the chief executive of the council. They said they couldn't pay me or they would have to pay other people who missed out.

“They said it is because I stopped working, because I was working illegally. But I was not illegal.”

Mrs Cook spent months visiting deportation centres, fearing she would be forced to return to Zimbabwe where she was a member of the Movement for Democratic Change, which opposes the regime of President Robert Mugabe.

She came to England in 2000 and married Dave, 54, in 2003, but the Home Office would not recognise her marriage because it took place after her temporary visa had expired.

After her long struggle to stay she said the added blow had left her disheartened, and the couple are now considering legal action against the Home Office and council.

She said: “I have been fighting my whole life. I can't fight any more.”

Mr Cook said: “The Home Office decided she was legal and she was given indefinite leave to stay.

“When we got her visa we were advised by our solicitor to sue the Home Office and council for loss of earnings, because we lost six months of Marjory's money.

“At the time we thought this has been a long battle and we had run out of energy for the fight.

“But we think we are going to have to sue them now because this is a lot more money.”

A council spokesman said: “It is not appropriate for us to comment on individual cases.”