THE former senior supervisor at the centre of allegations about bribery, discrimination and harassment at Swindon’s Great Western Hospital, broke down in tears when giving evidence to an Employment Tribunal in Bristol.

The hearing was adjourned briefly twice yeterday to allow her to compose herself.

At the time Christine Woods had been answering questions about a member of her Goan workforce visiting her at home in August 2009 and presenting her with a gold chain.

She denied that she had asked for the gold chain and regarded it simply as an unsolicited gift.

On a later occasion she was describing what happened when three Carillion managers visited her home in February 2012 to demand her resignation.

She felt under pressure to comply and claimed that they offered her six months severance pay as part of a deal. But on her return from a holiday some months later she found a letter from Carillion suggesting she should retract her resignation and attend a meeting to discuss serious allegations that had been made about her. The company no longer felt it it appropriate to discuss severance pay.

Ms Woods said she followed their advice and hired a lawyer and agreed terms for the meeting which never took place.

She said it had been a very stressful time as she was without work, had legal bills she couldn't pay, her father had been taken ill in December 2011 and her own health was poor. Carillon did pay her in 2013, after her father had died.

Asked by Oliver Segal QC, acting for 51 GMB members whose allegations form the basis of the employment tribunal: “Did you agree to come and give evidence at this tribunal in return for the payment?” Ms Woods insisted there had been no ‘quid pro quo’.

She said the payment had been made after the preliminary tribunal hearings but she had not been asked to sign anything, Carillion having just paid her the money.

Earlier in the day she had denied allegations that Goan staff were frightened of her and feared they would be sacked if they did not contribute £5 to a collection for another staff member.

She also denied making offensive remarks to and about Goan staff.

Ms Woods did admit that Goan workers brought in gifts of alcohol and cigarettes but said that all staff received such gifts.

Asked by Mr Segal why the Goan staff would lie about about her she replied: “I don’t know.”

Ms Woods will continue to give evidence this week. The tribunal is not expected to end until mid December.