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Dismissed lesbian in line for

Published 05/03/2007

A lesbian who left her job as a sales assistant after being bullied about her sexuality is set to win £120,000 in compensation.

Marlene Bierlak was teased her about sexual preference by Katrina Davies who called her a "******* dyke" and taunted her by playing the Morrissey song "All the Lazy Dykes".

After months of the teasing and physical intimidation at a Next Store in Liverpool, Ms Bierlak registered a complaint about her colleague and took sick leave.

However, after fourteen months off sick her employers had failed to act and Ms Bierlak took the matter to a tribunal who ruled in December of this year that she had been discriminated against and been the victim of unfair dismissal.

Commenting on her case Ms, Bielak said: "It is not about the money, it is about getting justice, not only for me but for all those other people who are being discriminated against because of their sexuality,

"She shouldn't have been allowed to get away with it and Next shouldn't employ people who force their prejudices on others," she added.

The size of the damages will be decided in July.

News of the case comes after a Glasgow tribunal last month awarded £120,000 to Jonah Ditton who had been subjected to homophobic treatment at his job at CP Publishing.

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