A MUSLIM from Derby is suing supermarket giant Tesco for religious discrimination because he was asked to handle crates of alcohol against his beliefs.

Mohammed Ahmed, of Upper Dale Road, Normanton, also accused Tesco of victimisation and harassment during a three-day employment tribunal.

Mr Ahmed was employed as a warehouse operative, which included driving fork-lift trucks, at the firm's Lichfield warehouse in September last year.

The 32-year-old told the tribunal he was not made aware he would be required to handle alcohol when he started the job, a claim denied by Tesco.

Mr Ahmed refused to touch alcohol because it was against his religious principles as a Muslim, he said, and asked to be found other work.

He told the tribunal that the firm failed to co-operate and alleged he was told by a supervisor, "you do the job or go home", a claim also denied by the store.

Another supervisor, Steve Watts, allegedly shouted at him and said "do not take the p***", while line manager Deb Ryan was accused of being aggressive towards him.

The situation reached a peak during November and December as more alcohol came into the warehouse for Christmas, said Mr Ahmed.

The claimant, who grew up in Saudi Arabia and moved to Derby in 2006 and now works for a city agency, lodged a grievance with Tesco in February but said he was treated unfavourably as a result.

After eight months of working at the supermarket chain, he left in protest.

Laura Canham, for Tesco, said Mr Ahmed had indirectly been made aware at his induction that handling alcohol would be one of his tasks.

She denied supermarket bosses had failed to help him, saying every effort was made to find him an alternative role in the warehouse.

"At no stage did he raise the fact he could not handle alcohol," Ms Canham said. "He was advised at the outset what the job would entail.

"Bosses went to see if there were any other roles available for him. He applied for a maintenance job but was unsuccessful. All other roles, in some form or other, came into contact with alcohol."

Ms Canham alleged the claimant gave "mixed messages", once saying he was able to touch Budweiser beer.

Mr Ahmed said he had not visited any of Derby's three Tesco stores and was unaware alcohol was served by the shop. He admitted, however, that he had been to Sainsbury's, Asda and Lidl stores.

"It would be reasonable to expect him to be aware of what Tesco did," Ms Canham said.

Asked why he took so long raising a grievance, Mr Ahmed said: "Many meetings were being held in the meantime to discuss the situation."

The tribunal, in Birmingham, heard that Tesco's induction process now makes it clear that alcohol is involved as part of the job.

Tribunal chairman David Kearsley said: "The trigger for that has obviously been Mr Ahmed's complaint."

A decision by the tribunal is expected next week.