A WHITE cashier who was driven from her job on Teesside and replaced by Asian workers has won her claim that she was a victim of racial discrimination.

In a comparatively rare case, petrol filling station worker Janet Rowntree took her former bosses to an industrial tribunal claiming she had been sacked on grounds of her colour.

Mrs Rowntree and eight white colleagues were promised they could keep their jobs when a new manager took over the garage just before Christmas 2000.

But new boss, Natarah Vishnukanthan, drove them out and even sacked experienced white staff - one of whom had worked at the garage for 14 years - and employed his Asian friends, some of whom had little or no experience.

Mrs Rowntree pursued a claim for racial discrimination, and last night an industrial tribunal at Thornaby found in her favour.

She was awarded almost £5,000 in damages and loss of earnings.

Mr Vishnukanthan, the respondent, failed to show up to the hearing.

He had moved to Teesside to take over the management of the 24-hour Jet garage in Belle Vue Way, Hartlepool, after Shell sold the filling station to Malthurst Retail. The previous manager was employed by Shell, but in December the new owners appointed Mr Vishnukanthan.

Shell promised the workers, all women, they would continue their employment.

But several employees turned up to work after the change-over to find the garage closed for refurbishment, although none had been informed of any changes in their shifts.

While the garage was closed, the employees spotted two Asian men working in the garage, stacking shelves.

One worker came to work to find an Asian man, whom she claimed did not speak any English, doing her job.

"The man just stared at her, and made her feel very intimidated," said Mrs Rowntree.

Mr Vishnukanthan then told them he could only afford to pay them half their wages, and even when the garage reopened did not give them any work to do.

"We all felt mistreated and unwanted," said Mrs Rowntree.

Some employees found work elsewhere and one was sacked, but Mrs Rowntree stayed at the garage. Two other male Asians were employed, who worked 12-hour shifts seven days a week.

Mrs Rowntree said: "They were nice people and I got on well with them. But a rule was made that we had to keep the office in the station locked.

"The other two had a key, but I was never given one. I felt like I wasn't trusted."

Mr Vishnukanthan then brought an Asian friend from London to work at the garage, before sacking Mrs Rowntree and telling her he could not afford to employ her any more because the business was not doing well.

"I told him he was being racist, and I think he was a bit frightened," said Mrs Rowntree,

"He later offered me part-time work at weekends, but I could not accept because I have children.

"I believe his treatment of me was due to my ethnic origin."

The Northern Echo contacted the filling station last night to speak to Mr Vishnukanthan, but a spokesman said that he did not work there any more.

A spokeswoman for the Campaign For Racial Equality said last night: "This is an example that racial discrimination legislation applies to everyone and that everybody is entitled to be treated equally on grounds of race.