The former CEO of the Channel Islands Co-operative Society has claimed that mounting stress from his job caused him to drink more, gain weight and suffer from insomnia – and that even the mention of work would make him “shake violently”.

Colin Macleod (55) was answering questions in the Royal Court on the third day of the case he is bringing against the Co-op.

Mr Macleod has already settled the employment case in the Employment Tribunal, and is now making a claim against the organisation for personal injury.

He had worked at the Co-op since the age of 20 and yesterday told the Royal Court: “I’ve taken very few days off sick in 30 years. I soldier on.”

But Mr Macleod said that a combination of hostility, criticism, and an increasing workload had made his position intolerable and ultimately led to him being signed off ill.

He said he drank more, gained weight and suffered insomnia, and added: “At the mention of work I began to shake violently.”

The former CEO also claims he was forced out of his role in a conspiracy by senior colleagues, and told the court that there was no proper investigation into a letter of complaint he had submitted before leaving.

Advocate Jeremy Heywood, representing the Co-op, challenged this point, saying: “Your letter of complaint was thoroughly investigated and none of the complaints in it were upheld, were they?”

Mr Macleod replied: “If it was independently investigated, then it was governed by a code of ethics that I’m totally unfamiliar with.”

He also said one of those he believed wanted him out applied for his job before he had left it.

When asked how he knew, Mr Macleod said: “People were aware of it.”

Advocate Heywood pointed out that no document proving the application had been uncovered and said: “No document has been found because no document like that ever existed.”

Mr Macleod responded: “It is one of thousands of documents that have never been found.”

The former CEO also recalled an incident after a senior staff member left, claiming a colleague made a pointed remark: “He won’t be the last to go.”

When asked by Advocate Heywood how he knew the comment referred to him, Mr Macleod replied: “From the way she was glaring at me.”

Commissioner Matthew John Thompson is presiding over the case, with Jurats Le Cornu and Powell.

The trial continues today.