A RECRUITMENT expert claimed she was forced to resign because of the way she was treated by her boss when she became pregnant.

Mary Siergiejew resigned from Retail Personnel Solutions in Bolton claiming that her boss had treated her unfairly after she had announced that she was expecting her third child.

But yesterday an industrial tribunal heard that her boss Dominic Kneafsey had been keen to welcome the 36-year-old back after her pregnancy, as she was "doing a good job and was bringing the money in".

Speaking after the hearing, which was deferred for a verdict until September 23, Mrs Siergiejew said she was fighting for every other pregnant working woman.

She said: "All I did was become pregnant. It's a fact of life that women have babies.

"I want others to realise that women do become pregnant and they are still entitled to work and be promoted."

Mrs Siergiejew, of Everbrom Road, Morris Green, resigned on December 28 last year, just two weeks after giving birth to her baby Lucy by caesarean section.

She told the tribunal that Mr Kneafsey announced that she was being put on a three-month trial, her statutory maternity pay would be reduced and her company convertible car was swapped for an old unreliable Ford Mondeo.

She is claiming sexual discrimination, constructive dismissal and unlawful stopping of her wages.

Bolton firm Retail Personnel Services recruits staff for giant retailers like Tesco and Asda and Mrs Siergiejew dealt with companies like Nike and Harvey Nichols.

The tribunal was told that Mrs Siergiejew was promoted to team leader in June last year, nearly three months after she joined, and benefited from a salary rise and perks.

Just days after her promotion, she announced to the office that she was pregnant.

At the tribunal, in Manchester, Trisha Kneafsey, the former partner of Dominic Kneafsey and fellow employee of the firm, told the hearing that her boss was pleased about the news of Mrs Siergiejew's pregnancy.

She said: "We wanted to let Mary know that we were looking forward to her coming back. We wanted her to come back more than anything. Dominic was shocked when she resigned."

Ms Kneafsey added that Mrs Siergiejew could be very undermining and aggressive towards others while she was at work.

After the hearing, Mrs Siergiejew's husband, Paul, paid testimony to his wife's strength, saying: "Mary has suffered emotional stress at the time and today. The family are all very proud of her and the way that she has conducted herself."