A FORMER school librarian says she was discriminated against when she was sacked over her sickness record.

Jacqueline Crockford was dismissed by West Bridgford School after an appeal in September 2007.

Ms Crockford is diagnosed with mixed nervous anxiety and depression. She has made a claim of unfair dismissal and also alleges discrimination under the Disability Discrimination Act.

A Nottingham employment tribunal heard evidence yesterday on whether her nervous anxiety was a disability. If the tribunal rules that Ms Crockford is disabled, the school could be at fault for not making allowances for it.

West Bridgford head Rob McDonough says the school was not informed about the extent of the condition.

But Ms Crockford, of West Bridgford, claims she disclosed the condition to Notts County Council in 1999.

"I have always been told to declare my nervous anxiety, since the 1980s," she said.

The 55-year-old's workload increased after she lost a library assistant in 2005 and she suffered anxiety and exhaustion. She told her line manager she "couldn't cope" in February 2006 and was referred for an occupational health assessment.

She later lost another colleague in the library.

She was given a final written warning about absence on July 19, 2007.

Ms Crockford said her health deteriorated further after she was dismissed.

"I was scared of the school, the road the school was on, I was afraid to see the students," she said.

"I saw one girl near my home and she was due to take part in a reading initiative I used to run. When I said she wouldn't be able to take part it felt like I had let her down."

West Bridgford School adopted foundation status after Mr McDonough became head in 2005. Human resources were moved to an external company and a business manager handled issues relating to Ms Crockford.

Legislation defines a disability as having a "substantial or adverse impact on day-to-day activities".

Dr Neil Holden, a psychiatrist based at Queens Medical Centre, diagnosed Ms Crockford's condition.

She has coped with her anxiety with a combination of prescribed medication and self-management techniques including exercise.

michael.greenwell @nottinghameveningpost.co.uk