A WARRINGTON County Court judge who claims she was bullied at work after raising concerns over government cuts has won a landmark legal case.

District judge Claire Gilham has been involved in a lengthy row to have a whistleblowing claim aired at an employment tribunal.

She suffered a breakdown as a result of being ‘treated detrimentally as a result of raising concerns about systemic failings in the court administration’.

Today, Wednesday, five Supreme Court justices unanimously ruled in her favour – meaning that the case can now proceed to a tribunal between the judge and the Ministry of Justice.

Judge Gilham first presented claims of whistleblowing and disability discrimination to a tribunal in February 2015.

Her disclosures concerned what were said to be ‘poor and unsafe working conditions and an excessive workload’ in at Warrington County Court.

Proceedings in 2017 heard that she was bullied and overloaded with work, causing a breakdown which left her unable to work for four years.

But judges are not afforded legal protections afforded to whistleblowers under current legislation as they are classed as office holders, rather than workers.

Now the Supreme Court had ruled that the judge, and other judicial office holders, are entitled to these same protections.

Supreme Court president Lady Brenda Hale said: "I can reach no other conclusion than that the Employment Rights Act should be read and given effect so as to extend its whistleblowing protection to the holders of judicial office."