A WOMAN has spoken of her anger after she was sued for not moving into her student digs.

Huddersfield University student Shereen Quartermain never lived in her room at the Storthes Hall student accommodation site.

The 20-year-old backed out of her place in the summer of 2008 before her degree even started after she began experiencing mental health problems.

But despite having a medical note saying she was suffering from suicidal tendencies, Ubrique Services Ltd, owners of the Farnley Tyas based halls, sued her for more than £4,000 – a full year’s accommodation fees.

Last month a judge at Leeds County Court ordered Ms Quartermain to pay almost £1,400 – the equivalent of one term’s rent – plus £465 costs.

Now the final year history student claims she has been discriminated against and said the whole thing wouldn’t have happened if she’d had a physical injury.

She said: “I signed up for three terms in April 2008 but then in July when I began working I started suffering from bouts of depression and anxiety.

“I went to my doctor and I was signed off work for quite a while and I decided for the sake of my degree I couldn’t live in Storthes Hall because it was not a good environment for me.”

Ms Quartermain notified Ubrique Services that she had to pull out of her place on August 4 – five weeks before she was due to move in.

She then moved in with her boyfriend in Lindley so she could live in a stable environment for the entirety of her degree.

But three months later she was shocked when she received a summons demanding the full payment of her rent for the entire academic year.

She said: “I didn’t hear anything so I assumed that my room was cancelled.

“I didn’t get any letters through saying ‘this is your room’ or any phone calls saying ‘where are you?’

“The whole thing has just been a complete ordeal. I got my life back on track but with this stupid court case I’ve been close to going back to my doctor, it’s been an absolute pain.

“If I had been in a car crash and broken my leg or if I had an arm amputated – if I had a physical illness – they would have treated me differently.

“Because I had a mental illness I feel I’ve been discriminated against.”

Adnan Shaikh, legal director of South Street Asset Management, the owners of Ubrique Services, said Ms Quartermain had signed a legally binding licence that was approved by Huddersfield University.

Mr Shaikh said the terms of the licence did not allow students to cancel their agreements and claimed Ms Quartermain had never applied to do so.

He said: “We always advise students to seek independent legal advice if they are unsure about their position under the licence before signing it.

“We review every case of a request for cancellation on the grounds of medical conditions. This is reviewed sympathetically and the company does not discriminate on physical or mental health grounds.”