A FORMER employee of the Kent Messenger Group who was sent a dead mouse while at work is claiming she was unfairly dismissed.

Amanda Fisher, who worked for the media group as a writer and sub-editor at its headquarters in Larkfield, near Maidstone, claims she was dismissed as a result of “whistleblowing” because she had raised concerns about professional training and health and safety.

Ms Fisher, who lives in Selling, near Faversham, alleges that she was the victim of a “prolonged campaign of bullying and harassment at the hands of management and also senior colleagues.”

She claims that she suffered from extreme stress and in July 2003 removed herself from the workplace on her doctor’s recommendation because of what she claimed was continuing harassment.

The Kent Messenger Group, which rejects Ms Fisher’s allegations, appointed an external investigator to look into her complaints in October 2003.

Ms Fisher, who was dismissed on June 15 this year, claims that the interim findings established that she had been right to remove herself from the workplace.

She joined the Kent Messenger Group in August 2000 as a trainee sub-editor after a long career in broadcast journalism including the BBC, Channel 4, ITV and Sky Broadcasting.

Ms Fisher went on to become a writer/sub-editor in the group features department in 2002, writing for many of the company’s titles. She received the mouse in the post in March 2003.

Ms Fisher is taking her case against the Kent Messenger Group to an employment tribunal. She is seeking reinstatement.

She said: “I am deeply saddened at having to issue these proceedings. This was a job that I had always longed to do ever since my school days at my Kent grammar school. I believe I did the job well. I enjoyed doing it. All I wanted was to carry on doing it.”

Kent Messenger Group editorial director Simon Irwin said: “It is a pity that things have come to this. I believe we did everything we could to resolve all the issues in Amanda’s case. We will contest all her claims at the tribunal.”