A MOTHER who claimed she lost her job on a Boots beauty counter because she left work to look after her sick child has had her case thrown out by an employment judge.

Anna Golonka, who lives with her police officer partner in Trent Road, Didcot, tried to sue the High Street giant and beauty firm Elizabeth Arden for sexual discrimination.

She claimed she was sacked for too many “unauthorised absences” because of her five-year-old autistic son and seven-month-old baby boy's medical needs.

The 30-year-old said unsympathetic Boots bosses stripped her of her job as a counter manager in one of its flagship stores after she had to leave work early, or could not come in, because her children were ill.

But a panel of employment tribunal judges disbelieved Miss Golonka's version of events labelling her account “inconsistent”.

They also branded the evidence she gave during the three-day hearing in Reading this week, “very unreliable”. Judge Richard Barraclough said: “By contrast I found the respondent’s witnesses honest, straightforward and reliable.”

Boots and Elizabeth Arden denied sexual discrimination and unfair dismissal claiming that Miss Golonka – who worked in the store in The Oracle shopping centre, Reading, selling Elizabeth Arden products – was sacked primarily because of poor performance.

Judge Barraclough said: “Both Boots and Elizabeth Arden are used to dealing with staff with childcare responsibilities and there was nothing in the evidence to suggest either adopted a hostile, unreasonable or let alone discriminatory attitude to such staff.”