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Disabled woman sues clothes store Disabled woman sues clothes store
(9 minutes later)
A woman claims clothing firm Abercrombie & Fitch made her work in the stockroom because her prosthetic arm did not fit the shop's image.A woman claims clothing firm Abercrombie & Fitch made her work in the stockroom because her prosthetic arm did not fit the shop's image.
Riam Dean, 22, told an Employment Tribunal she felt "diminished" and "humiliated" following the incident at Saville Row store in central London. Riam Dean told an Employment Tribunal she felt "diminished" and "humiliated" by the incident at its Saville Row store in central London.
The law student is suing for disability discrimination and is seeking up to £20,000 in damages. The 22-year-old law student is suing for disability discrimination and seeking up to £20,000 in damages.
The company said her portrayal of what happened is "inaccurate". The company said her portrayal of what happened was "inaccurate".
Miss Dean, who was born with her left forearm missing and wears a prosthetic arm, said she was granted special permission to wear a cardigan to cover the join in her arm.Miss Dean, who was born with her left forearm missing and wears a prosthetic arm, said she was granted special permission to wear a cardigan to cover the join in her arm.
But she told the tribunal she was later removed from the shop floor and made to work in the stockroom because the cardigan did not adhere to the strict dress code.But she told the tribunal she was later removed from the shop floor and made to work in the stockroom because the cardigan did not adhere to the strict dress code.
Miss Dean told the tribunal she felt "taunted" when her manager told her she could return to the shop floor of the firm's flagship store if she removed the cardigan.Miss Dean told the tribunal she felt "taunted" when her manager told her she could return to the shop floor of the firm's flagship store if she removed the cardigan.
She said: "I felt personally diminished, humiliated and could not argue a point I could never win."She said: "I felt personally diminished, humiliated and could not argue a point I could never win."
She told the hearing she would have stayed with the company until her law qualification was complete, had she not been "bullied" out of her job.
'Adult bullying''Adult bullying'
Miss Dean added that, when she left the company, she "wasn't the same person". She told the hearing she would have stayed with the company until her law qualification was complete, had she not been "bullied" out of her job.
She said: "I was always prepared for children to be curious about my disability, but to be faced with adult bullying, no-one could have prepared me for such debasement." Miss Dean added that when she left the company she "wasn't the same person".
"I was always prepared for children to be curious about my disability, but to be faced with adult bullying, no-one could have prepared me for such debasement," she said.
Miss Dean has just finished her final exams at London's Queen Mary University.Miss Dean has just finished her final exams at London's Queen Mary University.
A spokeswoman for the company said before the three-day hearing began on Wednesday: "We cannot discuss the specifics of a pending matter, but can say that Miss Dean's portrayal of what occurred during her employment with Abercrombie & Fitch is inaccurate. A spokeswoman for the company speaking before the start of Wednesday's hearing said her "portrayal of what occurred during her employment with Abercrombie & Fitch is inaccurate.
"We regret that Miss Dean has felt it necessary to bring a claim to the Employment Tribunal."We regret that Miss Dean has felt it necessary to bring a claim to the Employment Tribunal.
"Abercrombie & Fitch has a strong anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policy, and is committed to providing a supportive and dignified environment for all of its employees." "Abercrombie & Fitch has a strong anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policy, and is committed to providing a supportive and dignified environment for all its employees."