A FACTORY worker's marriage broke down after he suffered up to 30 homophobic taunts every day from fellow workers, a court has heard.

John Weatherstone, 42, endured 18 months of name calling while working as a warehouseman because of an alleged resemblance to the character Jimmy Corkhill from the TV soap Brookside, who is played by a gay actor.

Newcastle County Court heard how the taunts became so bad Mr Weatherstone walked out of his job at Homeworthy Furniture Manufacturers in Sunderland, despite being unemployed for 17 years previously, and suffered a nervous breakdown.

The constant barrage of abuse included poems being written about him on toilet walls.

The court heard how Mr Weatherstone and his wife separated after marital difficulties and arguments occurred.

Father-of-two Mr Weatherstone walked out of his job in October 1998 and is now suing his employers, who he claims are liable for the behaviour of the bullying employees.

His barrister, Christopher Makey, told the court: "It was not only the verbal abuse, there were other types of abuse.

"There was a poem on the toilet wall taunting homosexuals and in particular using nicknames given to him."

Mr Weatherstone, of Sunderland, who said he was not homosexual, admitted in court that he had engaged in banter with some colleagues and would make references to TV programmes such as the Dick Emery show and would call people "treasure".

But he told the court he felt singled out and bullied by a group of workers. Fellow workers claim the taunts were just a bit of fun.

The case continues.