A student is suing his university for £50,000, claiming he has been victimised.

Ex-SAS signalman John White, 41, says he was taunted by fellow students because of his cross-dressing and schizophrenia.

He believes Brighton University did too little to support him after he was suspended, accused of disturbing other students.

Mr White, who lives at the YMCA hostel in North Street, Brighton, has filed a High Court writ alleging the university breached the Disability Discrimination Act and the Human Rights Act.

The writ says he was victimised after starting a BA Honours degree in computing and information systems.

Mr White served nine years in the Army. He left in 1989, with an exemplary record, to work for IBM.

In March 2000 he was found guilty of assaulting four police officers and given a two-year conditional discharge.

He then arrived at court wearing a dress, jewellery, make-up and a pink turban and said he had changed his name to Joanna.

The same year he revealed he dressed in women's underwear while serving with the SAS. Last March he told The Argus he no longer cross-dressed.

Mr White's writ reveals he was sectioned under the 1983 Mental Health Act three years ago and detained at Ashen Hill Regional Secure Unit in Hailsham.

He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and gender dysphoria.

He decided to take a computing course while at Ashen Hill and applied for a place at Brighton University.

After starting there, he decided to do a diploma in Russian as a subsidiary course.

According to his writ, Mr White soon complained to vice-chancellor Sir David Watson about the student services department, where he claims to have been patronised when he told of his disabilities, which he blames on his mental disorder.

The writ states: "The claimant started to be picked on by students and put in a complaint about this matter."

It goes on to claim Mr White's confidentiality was abused and his psychiatrist tried to have him resectioned due to a university report.

Mr White claims he suffered discrimination and victimisation and was accused of disturbing students.

The writ also states: "The university is clearly aware of the claimants' disabilities. The claimant has clearly been treated in a different manner on account of his disabilities to his detriment without objective or reasonable justification."

Mr White continued to write letters of protest, including several to 10 Downing Street.

He was suspended during his second academic year for what his writ describes as "an alleged minor incident whilst carrying out academic research".

He insists the university should have carried out a risk assessment, knowing his disabilities, and offered suitable arrangements such as a separate study area.

Mr White won undisclosed damages from The People newspaper in March this year after it was falsely claimed he stalked the Queen.

Mr White declined to comment on this latest case.

A Brighton University spokeswoman said: "This matter is being looked at by the university lawyers and so it would be inappropriate to comment at this stage."