A former school worker suspected of moonlighting while on sick leave is suing for psychiatric injury after she was spied on by Bradford Council.

Solicitors representing Shamim Khan, who at the time of the alleged ordeal was a community development officer at Nab Wood School, Cottingley, say she was placed under surveillance for about six weeks.

A claim for damages against the Council is due to be heard at Bradford County Court next week.

Her solicitor, Adrian Green, of Stachiw Bashir Green Solicitors, Bradford, will tell the court the Council had breached her right to respect for private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Mr Green said the Council was denying liability.

Miss Khan was absent from work due to stress and depression three years ago.

In a statement, her solicitors said the school “believed wrongly” that she was working while off sick and instead of confronting her, the school contacted the Council which placed her under “close surveillance”. The firm said the school then threatened to sack her. When she found out about the surveillance, her health had worsened and she had suffered psychiatric harm, Mr Green said.

The single mother won a claim for unfair dismissal at an employment tribunal against the school in 2009.

A Council spokesman said: “The Council is unable to comment on a matter which has yet to be decided by the court.”

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