'Sex swop cost me job'

SEX swap accountant William Benson claims he was fired from his job at Hailsham after he began turning up for work as a woman called Hannah.

She claims to have been driven out by taunts from staff about what toilet she should use and practical jokers who would wiggle their hips as they went past her desk.

Hannah Benson told an employment tribunal that she was unfairly made redundant by Marlow Ropes because she was a transexual.

Ms Benson, who now lives in Daventry, Northants, is claiming for unfair dismissal and sexual discrimination.

She told the hearing that the firm she had been working for was taken over by Marlow Ropes in March 2000 and she moved south to Hailsham following the change.

Depression

Ms Benson said she was signed off work in November 2000 suffering from stress and depression brought on because of teasing and pressure at work.

She wanted to return to work in March 2001 as a female but the company, which denies the allegations, made her redundant.

'I knew at 14 that I was a female trapped in a male body. I have had to hide it for various reasons. The treatment from Marlow Ropes has hurt me.

'One staff member walked past my desk with his hands on his hips wiggling his bottom.'

On another occasion she claims to have walked into the gents to be told, "Are you sure you are in the right toilet?".

She said that she had started to dress in a feminine way before she went off sick.

'My dress style became more flamboyant and I used to wear nail varnish.

'I was wearing female style drawstring trousers, female style blouse and I was wearing nail varnish.

'My hair was growing longer and I was wearing high heels at work to see if anybody would notice.'

She said she had discussed her change of gender with her boss Ronnie Smith, the company's finance director.

Ms Benson said she told him about wanting to work as a female and he replied, "No way. We'll see about that".

He denied that the subject had ever been discussed and said it was outrageous to claim her gender had influenced the decision to make her redundant.

He also said he had no idea she had decided to change sex and live as a female.

She had never informed the company she wished to return to work from sick leave as a female and he had been surprised when he found out about the sex change three months after she was made redundant, the hearing was told.

The tribunal reserved it's decision which will be announced at a later date.