Two journalists have won claims for unfair dismissal and sex discrimination, it was reported yesterday, with a tribunal ruling that they were axed from their jobs at Sky “because they were mothers with young children”.

The Guardian reports that BSkyB now faces a £200,000 payout to Natalie Stone and Victoria Waterson.

The pair were overlooked for a new position of video producer, which was given to the then senior Sky executive Mike Taylor’s personal assistant, Dee Lakhan. Taylor, head of networked media at Sky Movies, had a “mindset adverse to pregnancy and maternity leave”, the tribunal found.

Both journalists are now seeking compensation for loss of earnings and injury to feelings, the report adds.