A Northamptonshire hotel company has been cleared of sex discrimination by an employment tribunal but criticised for the way it handled the process.

Samantha Remedios, 33, a press officer at Whittlebury Hall, a hotel, spa and conference centre, had claimed that she was sacked after she informed management she was pregnant.

However management at the hotel successfully argued before the tribunal sitting in Bedford that a decision had been made to cut the post before Mrs Remedios announced she was pregnant.

Tribunal chairman Robin Postle said: "Our unanimous decision is she was not dismissed by reason of her pregnancy and that the decision to outsource the claimant's job had been made before the claimant announced she was pregnant.

"The tribunal is satisfied that the reason for her dismissal was that she was no longer required."

However, Mr Postle did criticise the personnel department at the hotel management for the way it treated Mrs Remedios.

"The terminology in the unfortunate letter that the personnel department sent to the claimant leaves something to be desired and was nothing short of shambolic," he said.

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By Andrew Smith

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