A former computer specialist has spoken of her five-year-long 'David and Goliath battle' after proving that a top Midlands university did discriminate against her.

A second employment tribunal acknowledged last month that Yael Kahn was victimised and had been discriminated against because of her disability while she was employed at Warwick University.

However, the Birmingham tribunal found against Miss Kahn on two other claims, including unfair dismissal and breach of contract.

The Israeli-born 52-year-old from Kenilworth, Warwickshire, said her problems started in April 1998, after she was involved in a car accident.

She sustained a dislocated spinal vertebra and other injuries in the crash which prevented her from standing or sitting for more than an hour at at time.

She claimed that despite her injury, her workload was increased until she was unable to cope.

The hearing chairman David Kearsley found that the prestigious university had failed to conduct a workplace assessment when Miss Kahn returned to her job as a web developer between September 1998 and June 1999.

The tribunal also found that Miss Kahn "had received less favourable treatment to her detriment" by the university and the head of Warwick law school, Professor Mike McConville, until she was forced to leave her post in 2000.

Before resigning, the police were called to Miss Kahn's home after she was accused of taking a university computer. She was arrested by police, questioned but then released without charge.

Miss Kahn first took the university to an employment tribunal in 2002, but she lost the case, and was ordered to pay more than £100,000 in costs.

Last year, an appeal quashed Miss Kahn's legal bill and ordered a fresh hearing after declaring the first tribunal panel had reached "perverse decisions," and was "erred in law."

Chocking back tears as she spoke from her home, Miss Kahn said: "I am still in a state of shock. I really enjoyed my job at the university, it was challenging, it was technical and I was very happy doing it.

"I am angry that they destroyed my life, ruined it and there was no need for it because I was doing excellent work for them and they were benefiting.

"For years and years the university claimed they did not do anything wrong, they did not discriminate against me and this has been one long battle for me.

"They should have made reasonable adjustments. I feel vindicated in a sense and now it has been accepted beyond doubt."

She slammed a university press statement issued after the tribunal decision in which her name was incorrectly spelt throughout.

Miss Kahn said: " The statement is awful. The case lasted five years and they could not even spell my name right - this shows their ongoing discrimination towards me. They are still denying what they did, they still do not apologise."

Miss Kahn, who suffers from back pain and has not held down a long-term job since she forced to resign, now wants to concentrate on rebuilding her life.

A statement from the University of Warwick said: "The university is pleased to note that the full judgement makes many positive statements about how the university dealt with a difficult and complex situation.

"We urge interested parties to read the full judgement and to appreciate just how numerous and positive the judgment's statements supportive of the university are."

A remedy hearing will be held in November to decide costs.