The British Stammering Association is supporting a workman previously employed by Walkers Crisps as he claims constructive dismissal and disability discrimination at a Newcastle Employment Tribunal.

40-year old Kevin Alderson worked as a packaging technician at the Walkers factory in County Durham for 23 years before resigning in May last year after the company allegedly forced him to take part in role-playing sessions during training, despite his stammering. Mr Alderson says that the experiences turned him into a nervous wreck and that he had no choice but to leave his job because he believed that complaints over how the issue was handled by management were not handled correctly.

The tribunal is expected to last a week.