He said bosses at Interparfum stripped him of his real managerial role and instead foisted mind-numbingly dull tasks on him over a four-year period.

Mr Desnard described the process as "an insidious descent into hell, a nightmare" that led to him suffering from a host of health problems, including "epilepsy, ulcers, sleep problems and serious depression".

He said he was sidelined after the company lost a major contract and was preparing to restructure the group.

"I went into depression, I was ashamed to be paid to do nothing," he told AFP. "The worse part of it was denying this suffering," he said. He was fired in 2014 after seven months' sick leave.

He is seeking over €360,000 in damages and missed pay, which included holiday pay and missing out on a potential promotion.