A factory worker accused of writing an obscenity about a colleague on a loo roll holder has lost his claim for constructive dismissal.

Machine operative Benjamin Chapman, 19, said his position at plastics firm CT Moulds Ltd, of Small Dole, became untenable after bosses claimed he scrawled the remark in a cubicle.

The jibe, which Mr Chapman denied writing, was levelled at foreman Carl Gathern, whose relationship with Mr Chapman soured after his brother was made redundant by the firm in December 1999.

Mr Gathern, of Undermill Road, Upper Beeding, said: "I thought it was disgusting that a colleague could write such a thing about me which was in full view for other people entering the toilet to see.

"I wasn't happy that such a remark could go unpunished."

After Mr Gathern complained to bosses, an investigation was launched and Mr Chapman, of Somerset Road, East Preston, was suspended.

Interviews were held with all those on the shop floor that day and handwriting samples were taken. Chris Rickard, managing director of CT Moulds Ltd, said after comparing Mr Chapman's writing, he was satisfied he was the culprit.

Mr Rickard also sent the samples to an independent handwriting expert, who again picked out Mr Chapman as the culprit.

Mr Rickard told the Brighton tribunal he was considering merely a verbal warning against Mr Chapman and asked him back to work.

But Mr Chapman said his name within the firm, where he had worked for two years, had been tarnished by the accusations and he felt he would be victimised if he returned.

He said: "The suspension gave further cause to believe I was guilty among other workers."

Mr Chapman's father, Les, who represented his son, added: "If my son had accepted a disciplinary, life for him would have been very difficult.

"We are talking about a small firm with possibly ten people working on the shop floor and every one of those people knew my son had come under suspicion."

The tribunal unanimously decided to throw out the constructive dismissal claim.

Tribunal chairman Michael Davey said the company was reasonable in concluding that Mr Chapman was the culprit and had acted properly in dealing with the incident.