A trade union body has been found guilty of victimising and unfairly dismissing one of its former workers after he raised an unsuccessful claim for racial discrimination.

During the hearing, evidence from STUC general secretary Grahame Smith was branded "not credible".

Tribunal judge Clair McManus dismissed a series of statements made by Mr Smith during the case, which was brought by former equality development officer Zaffir Hakim.

Mr Hakim has worked at the STUC for 11 years and launched his case after being made redundant last year, arguing he was singled out for raising his claim when he was not promoted in 2014.

He worked in the STUC's anti-racism project One Workplace Equal Rights (OWER) but lost his job when the scheme ended.

The tribunal heard tensions erupted among the OWER team in light of Mr Hakim's claim for racial discrimination and there were fears it could have jeopardised bids for funding for other anti-racism projects.

It ruled the discrimination claim, which Mr Hakim later dropped, was behind the decision to make him redundant when other options could have been explored.

The tribunal agreed he had been unfairly dismissed and was the subject of victimisation but cleared the STUC of a second racial discrimination charge.

Mr Hakim, of Pakistani descent, said: "On the whole, I am pleased with the outcome. This case has had a devastating impact on my health, well-being and employment prospects.

"I have become a shadow of my former self because of these detriments.

"The lack of support for members by trade unions in STUC equality structures is alarming. Their actions amounted to supporting the employer's discrimination.

"Unions should practise what they preach and not wash their hands of anyone or close ranks on an employee with 11 years' service for having done a protected act on race discrimination."

He added: "Trade unions cannot move forward on equality issues and protecting workers if they are unable or unwilling to challenge their own practices, and supporting individuals who have carried out a protected act.

"I hope they take responsibility for their actions."

Following the verdict, the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights said it was withdrawing its speaker from the STUC's St Andrew's Day March and Rally Against Racism, which it has sponsored for more than a decade.

The coalition's chairwoman, Sandra Deslandes-Clark, said: "We hope this judgement will convince the STUC of the need to take specific, appropriate action to address the procedural, policy and personal issues underlying their treatment of Mr Hakim, but until such time as we see evidence of action, we are unable to continue our support for the STUC.

"Regarding our commitment to provide a speaker and attend the St Andrew's Day March and Rally as a supporting organisation, we now feel this would be inappropriate.

"It is our responsibility as an anti-racist organisation to take a stand against victimisation, even where our own interests are at stake."

A spokesman for the STUC said: "On the major part of the case, we are delighted that the tribunal accepted our evidence in full by throwing out the completely fallacious accusation of race discrimination.

"The tribunal also accepted the STUC faced a genuine redundancy situation due to the ending of government funding for our One Workplace project.

"We are disappointed it did not accept, on an aspect of process, that the dismissal was fair.

"We also fail to understand how we could be said to have unintentionally or unconsciously victimised the claimant and we intend to appeal."