A WOMAN who was accused of threatening to stab her former boss in the back with a knife has had the case against her dismissed.

District judge Kevin Grego said he could not decide who was telling the truth because both had axes to grind.

It was alleged that Susan Palmer, who lost her job as team leader at Doncaster Precision Casting, Berry Hill Industrial Estate, Droitwich, in October after 20 years service, confronted production manager Nigel Reid on the platform of Droitwich train station and said: "You're scum. I know exactly which route you take to work and at which times.

"Me and Phil her husband can hide in places without you seeing us. We have knives and they will go in your back some time before Christmas."

The 44-year-old, of Swan Drive, Hanbury Park, Droitwich, denied the accusation that she used threatening words that could cause harassment, alarm or distress when she appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court last week.

She admitted seeing Mr Reid on the platform of the station and briefly exchanging words with him, but said she thought Mr Reid was making the threat up because she had filed a grievance procedure against him.

District judge Grego said that because the alleged confrontation happened on Monday, December 10 - about the time employment tribunal proceedings got under way - he could not be sure who was telling the truth.

He said: "There is clearly a past between the two of you. You worked together. You blame him, to a degree, as being responsible for your losing a long-held position at Doncasters."

However, he said Mrs Palmer, having felt victimised, had gone through the right channels in taking the matter to a tribunal hearing but also acknowledged Mr Reid made her "emotional".

He said: "While you might be moved on a chance sighting to let your mouth run away with you it's equally possible there are reasons why he might have said what he said when it is not entirely the truth of the matter."

District judge Grego reminded the court it was the Crown Prosecution Service's job to convince him beyond any reasonable doubt what they allege is true so he dismissed the case.