A FORMER high-flying Honda executive has launched a six-figure compensation claim against the car giant.

She claims she was chronically stressed and depressed while she worked there.

Four years ago Liz Hopkins was the top UK employee at Honda Trading Europe the arm of Honda that deals with parts and machinery imports and exports at Kembrey Park.

She had risen through the ranks from being an accounts assistant in 1992 to become finance controller.

But as her job and responsibilities expanded she says she began to suffer anxiety from being overworked and undermined by management.

Honda haave declined to comment on her allegations.

After time off with stress in early 2001, Liz requested meetings with Honda to sort out splitting up the workload to make it manageable. But she was offered none and having started work again had a further breakdown and was signed off sick with chronic anxiety and depression.

Eventually Honda terminated her contract, after 10 years' service, in August 2002.

Now Liz and her solicitor, Michael Berrett of Charles Lucas and Marshall, have lodged a case at Swindon County Court against Honda Trading.

Liz, who was earning £45,000 a year with benefits at Honda, is now an occupational therapy assistant in a Sheffield hospital on £13,000. The claim is for loss of income she would have earned during the rest of her working career.

Liz, 42, who used to live in Westlea, said: "Honda destroyed me and my life and I think I was treated abysmally. I gave up 10 years of my life to Honda and worked hard.

"I know I will never be able to get back to that level of employment again and there is psychiatric injury that I am still having to deal with. I find it hard to be back in Swindon it's just too traumatic and it brings it all back."

As well as being the finance controller Liz's job began to take on responsibility for human resources and IT. She set up an office in Italy and regularly went to America and Japan to carry out presentations.

Now Liz says she finds day-to-day life difficult, even at the level of coping with going shopping and coming into contact with people. She said: "My whole life has been turned upside down. I know I will not be able to function the same way again, but unless you have experienced it yourself you will not understand."

Charles Lucas and Marshall has issued proceedings and is waiting for a written defence from Honda. If the matter goes to trial, it is not expected to start for at least a year.

Although no sum of money has yet been mentioned it could be hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Mr Berrett said: "This will be an unusual case because Liz is not only claiming compensation for the pain and suffering she endured during the latter stages of her employment.

"She is also seeking financial compensation from Honda for loss of earnings. We hope the case will go some way to compensating her for the money she has lost if she had never had to leave Honda."

Honda as a whole employs more than 4,000 people in Swindon, although the majority of those are at the manufacturing plant in South Marston rather than at Honda Trading.

Liz, who lives with her partner Kevin Richardson, said: "I don't feel bitter but I do want justice. I wouldn't want it to happen to anyone else.

"I was dedicated to my job and was proud to be part of it, but it doesn't count for anything. I just hope that this will give hope to other people out there, maybe in different companies, with genuine cases."

Tom Morton