An embassy worker who was forced to retire because of her age returned from a fortnight’s holiday to find a younger replacement sitting at her desk.
Janice Dinsdale, a former clerk at the Indian embassy, returned to work a day after her 65th birthday.
An employment tribunal heard she cried after finding a “young lady” in her chair doing her job.
Janice, now 72, claims she was told she was “no longer required”.
She has won a £109,906 payout – almost 20 times her claim – after a judge ruled the embassy discriminated against her due to her age.
Janice said: “It’s ridiculous expecting people to retire at 65 when they’re in good health.
“I consider my age to be a private issue. I felt I still had a lot to give. The respondent dismissed me without a simple apology or commiseration.”
Responding to the award, law graduate Janice, of Westminster, added: “When I made the claim I was looking for £6,000. I thought I might come out losing. It’s so incredible.”
The case took nearly seven years to reach court because the Republic of India “did not engage substantively,” the tribunal heard.
The divorcee began working at the High Commission of India in Aldwych, Central London, aged 63.
In the run-up to her 65th Janice was told she needed to apply for a one-year contract extension.
Janice, who planned to work until 70, completed the form before enjoying a break in August 2013.
She said: “I came back to find there was a young lady sitting in my seat doing my job.
"There were only two desks, I’d nowhere to sit down.
"I slowly began to cry. My extension request had been rejected without further explanation.”
Around two weeks later she claims she was asked to give a leaving speech in front of 400 people before being given a £13 bottle of brandy.
Janice, who did find new work, said: “It was humiliating.
"The ceremony made me feel old, like it was the end of the road professionally.”
Employment judge Tim Adkin said: “The decision to ensure the claimant retired in the month after her 65th birthday was on the face of it directly discriminatory.”
