Ex-sergeant Jason Singh is taking legal action against the chief constable of Cleveland Police in an employment tribunal.
The 41-year-old is seeking a five-figure payout amid claims he was repeatedly blocked from promotion because of his Asian background.
At a preliminary tribunal hearing on Newcastle’s Quayside last week, Mr Singh claimed he had been “victimised, harassed and belittled” on the grounds of his race.
Few details of specific abuse allegations were revealed at the hearing, but his legal team told the judge “we are talking about a long list of incidents over a long period of time”.
Mr Singh, from Middlesbrough, is also alleging disability discrimination against his former bosses, claiming he was ill-treated during five months sick leave for clinical depression and the dangerous disorder sleep apnea.
The hearing was told that Mr Singh passed his sergeant exams in March 2006 but, while his peers moved up the ranks, he was held back, he claims, because of his race.
Ian Skelt, representing Mr Singh, who worked at Stockton and Coulby Newham police stations, told the employment court that his client had been assigned duties which “set him up for a fall” because of his sleep apnea.
James Arnold, for Cleveland Police, disputed the claims, insisting Mr Singh was an under-performing officer.
Mr Singh took ill-health retirement in June.
A full tribunal hearing has been listed for later in the year.
