Belinda Coote's six-year battle against leisure giant Granada has finally paid off.

The 38-year-old, of Chester Terrace, Brighton, said: " I was absolutely delighted because I was totally vindicated. When I was found to be right on all points it restored some of my confidence, which had been severely lacking because of what they had done."

Mrs Coote worked for Granada Hospitality Limited for ten months as the manager of a ten pin bowling alley in West London.

In August 1993 she took a case to an industrial tribunal against her employers for sexual discrimination which was settled out of court.

But she cannot reveal the details of the case because of a confidentiality agreement. A month later she left the company by mutual agreement - eight months pregnant.

Her son was born a month later and it was only when Mrs Coote started looking for work again the following year that she was faced with the backlash from Granada.

She said: "I enrolled with two major agencies in my field in London but they told me they couldn't get a reference from Granada and therefore I would be at a disadvantage against candidates who could get a full set of references.

"They were totally stonewalled. One agency asked three times on the phone and wrote to them and so, in January 1995, I decided to take proceedings against Granada again."

It was only after talking to the Equal Opportunities Commission, who told her Granada's refusal was "victimisation", she discovered the law didn't protect people who had already left their employers.

So she forged ahead and brought her case under the Sexual Discrimination Act claiming she was being victimised because of the earlier case.

She said: "The reason why I took it this far was different to the reason why I started it in the first place.

"At the time I did it because I needed to get a job and I couldn't get one - so I had no choice. I had to get myself out of that situation to stop my career coming to a grand halt.

"Then it became apparent that the law had to be changed."

But sustaining the fight for so many years was not that simple.

Mrs Coote said: "It was very stressful, but basically I was provoked so much I never gave up the fight."

But despite the final victory, the determined mum has now left the leisure industry and has been in her most recent job in business development for two years.

Six years ago when she started the proceedings she found it impossible to find another job and filled in her time by completing

an MSc and becoming self-employed.

It wasn't until two years later she gained her first "proper" employment with C-Side.

But even while she was moving on in her career she had the added burden of the case, which began with an industrial tribunal and then went to the European Court of Justice.

The European Court gave leave for the case to be heard at an industrial tribunal in November last year and on January 10 this year Mrs Coote heard it had found in her favour on all points.

The final settlement was £195,000, of which £20,000 was awarded for injury to feelings. The rest was for loss of earnings, pension and benefits.

Mrs Coote paid tribute to The Equal Opportunities Commission and the GMB Union for their help in the case.

She said: "I am so grateful to GMB and the EOC because without them I couldn't have done it."

Following the judgment, Granada Hospitality Ltd apologised to Mrs Coote and has even told her the company will consider her for any suitable vacancies, which she is "considering".

Her message to any employee facing discrimination or victimisation at work is simple: "If you know you are right and you believe something to be fundamentally wrong then you should do it, but you have to be prepared for a rough ride because they are going to put up a fight."

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