A CRISP factory worker who claimed he was forced out of his job after being bullied about his chronic stammer has lost his compensation battle.

Kevin Alderson claimed he needed psychiatric treatment after being forced to give a speech during a team-building exercise.

The 40-year-old father-of-two had said he was bullied, taunted and humiliated after being forced to live out his worst nightmare.

But an employment tribunal ruled against him.

Walkers Crisps had denied forcing him out of his job at its Peterlee factory and discriminating against him on the grounds of his disability.

He claimed he was bullied by his line manager, Mary King, who he said frequently reduced him to tears.

Trouble started when packaging technician Mr Alderson, who had worked at the factory since 1977, was asked to take part in a role-playing exercise in July 1999. He told his line manager he did not want to take part because he was embarrassed about his stammer, but said she had bullied him into it.

Mr Alderson was asked to fill in an evaluation form on the exercise and made clear his disgust at being made to join in. But Walkers said the role play was in a private room and Mr Alderson was happy to take part.

The tribunal pointed out that his previous attendance record left "much to be desired". In 1995, he had 42 days off and in 1997, he was absent for 37 days.

His claim for constructive dismissal was ruled out and a further claim of disability discrimination was ruled "out of time".

The tribunal concluded: "The tribunal does not accept that anything that took place at the business basics course amounted to discrimination.

"He was amongst colleagues he worked with every day and it was a very private setting. He ranked the trainers as excellent."

Mr Alderson, of Easington Colliery, County Durham, is now working as a builder.

His wife, Lesley, said: "It is very disappointing that we have lost the case. We only began it as a matter of principle.

"We have now made our point, and we have moved on."