A FORMER prison clerk has been awarded £11,500 after she suffered months of torment at the hands of a fellow worker.

Rebecca Byrne, a typist, said she was harassed by John Wilson, a former health and safety officer at Durham Prison.

She said she was living in fear after he threatened to rape and kill her.

She moved from her home in Sedgefield, County Durham, to Newcastle and had panic alarms installed inside her new house.

Miss Byrne, 29, a former member of Sedgefield Town Council, said: "I am delighted by the outcome of the case. This shows that harassment cannot be tolerated.

"Hopefully, this will pave the way for other people to stand up for themselves and I hope other women will take it as a positive sign."

She added: "You don't go through this kind of thing for money. No amount of cash will ever be recompense for how I have been degraded."

Miss Byrne won a sex discrimination case against Mr Wilson in August last year for his treatment of her, between October 2000 and March 2001.

He has been ordered to pay £6,000 for injury to feelings and £2,500 for injury to health. The sum of £3,000 was also awarded jointly against Mr Wilson and Her Majesty's Prison Service.

Mr Wilson, 49, last known to be living in Monkseaton, North Tyneside, was not at the hearing.