A PROBATION office worker who claims she was forced to leave her job because of bullying by bosses was consistently behind in her work, an industrial tribunal was told yesterday.

Christine Davies, a former magistrate who worked as an offender supervisor in Middlesbrough, had claimed her managers had belittled her in front of offenders and colleagues and had undermined her confidence by continually criticising her work.

But at a hearing in Newcastle into claims of constructive dismissal against the National Probation Service Teesside, her managers rejected her allegations and said they had been trying to help her achieve her targets.

Senior probation officer Janet Bolton said there had been concerns about case records of Mrs Davies, who had been "poor in completing tasks she was set".

Ms Bolton said: "Her attitude was that she had to help offenders at all costs even when they were in the wrong."

She said she had offered supervision to help Mrs Davies run her case load more efficiently and had not humiliated or bullied her.

Ms Bolton said Mrs Davies had been advised to reduce her workload by passing on some of her cases, but she was "very protective of her offenders" and reluctant to do so.

Senior probation officer Wendy Eves said she had never discussed Mrs Davies' work performance in front of anyone else. She said: "At no time do I feel I undermined her confidence intentionally or otherwise."

Senior probation officer Trevor Jones denied making intimidating comments when Mrs Davies joined strike action, saying he had not known who was taking part.

Judgement has been reserved.