The Cradley Heath-based printer lost its case against Karen Sketchley (pictured left) at a tribunal that was heard in Birmingham last week.

Sketchley had already won 64,000 in a settlement with Cradley in 1994 after her job in the finishing department left her with repetitive strain injury, according to the Birmingham Evening Mail.

The newspaper said that an internal fax, which accused the worker of "hiding behind" her condition, was used in court as evidence against Cradley.

Amicus GPMS encouraged Sketchley to fight her case after she returned from a two-week holiday to find that her job had been given to someone else.

"After 26 years of working there I was out I was numb and couldn't believe it," Sketchley told the newspaper.

A spokesman for the firm said Cradley had "officially no comment" on the case.