By Kieran Corcoran PUBLISHED: 14:20 EST, 6 November 2013 | UPDATED: 19:10 EST, 6 November 2013 A dressmaker made famous by the TV show Big Fat Gypsy Weddings has been accused of treating one of her staff 'like an animal', and almost attacking her head designer after a shouting match. Thelma Madine, 61, who makes dresses which have featured on the hit Channel 4 show series exploring the raucous marriage ceremonies of Britain's travelling community, was accused of mistreating her staff today during an employment tribunal. Pauline Wooley, whose daughter Leanne Phillips, 31, was head designer at Nico Bridal Company until she was dismissed after the incident last year, gave evidence suggesting Ms Madine routinely mistreated her staff.
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Thelma Madine, 61, who starred in the hit Channel 4 show, is being pursued for unfair dismissal and unpaid wages
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She sacked Leanne Phillips, 31, her head designer, after a heated argument
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The tribunal heard that Miss Phillips called Ms Madine 'a horrible b****'
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Pauline Wooley, Miss Phillips's mother, said that she too was bullied,  intimidated and 'treated like an animal' by Ms Madine
Ms Wooley said: 'Leanne thought the world of @placeholder, and Thelma treated her like a daughter.'