A TRANSSEXUAL who moved to the UK because he feared persecution in his home town in America is seeking £500,000 compensation from his former British employers. He says he was demoted in Britain after he underwent surgery to “feminise” his face and breasts. Josh Bussert, 41, who now calls himself Jessica, is claiming for sex discrimination and victimisation against Hitachi Data Systems on the grounds that he was demoted from a senior information technology job. “I am not a slacker,” said Bussert. “I’m a hard worker and my change of sex does not affect my performance.” He is claiming £500,000 compensation in Britain in what is thought to be the largest discrimination claim to be launched over a sex change. The claim is expected to go to an employment tribunal within three months. Bussert, who transferred from the American branch of the same technology firm two years ago, is also pursuing £2m damages against the company in a parallel claim in the US.