Police chief who flashed breasts in boob op row keeps her £96k-a-year job
A HIGH-FLYING policewoman committed gross misconduct when she drunkenly flashed her breasts at a female colleague and wrongly accused her of having a “boob job”.
But a disciplinary panel last night recommended Assistant Chief Constable Rebekah Sutcliffe, 47, keep her £96,500-a-year post due to her outstanding career.
Sutcliffe confronted Greater Manchester Police colleague Superintendent Sarah Jackson in a hotel bar at a policing conference in May and accused of her of having cosmetic surgery.
Pump
The mother-of-three claimed Supt Jackson’s “operation” meant she was not being taken seriously and was “silly, vain and frivolous”.
She then exposed her left breast and said: “Look at these. These are the breasts of someone who’s had three children. I don’t feel the need to pump myself with silicone to get self-esteem.”
Sutcliffe was found guilty of two counts of gross misconduct.
It was later revealed that Supt Jackson, now working for Cumbria Constabulary, had never had surgery.
Panel chairwoman Rachel Crasnow, QC, recommended that Sutcliffe – suspended since the incident – receive a final written warning, rather than dismissal.
However, Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling will make the ultimate decision next year. Ms Crasnow said: “ACC Sutcliffe when drunk behaved shockingly, cruelly and hurtfully to Sarah Jackson and she stupidly exposed her breast.
“She abused her position hectoring and bullying way.”
Ms Crasnow said it was a “difficult case” in deciding whether Sutcliffe should lose her job.
She added: “She let herself down. Her behaviour fell far below the conduct to be expected of any police officer and a role model of her rank. This case has taken ACC Sutcliffe to the very precipice of dismissal.
Damaged
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“What has saved her has been her contrition, the steps she has taken to reform herself and the very high professional esteem in which she is justifiably held.”
In a statement, Ms Jackson said: “Despite not initiating or encouraging the incident, I greatly regret that members of the public had to witness it and that the reputation of Greater Manchester Police has been damaged.
“ACC Sutcliffe herself recognises I was not at fault and has apologised to me several times.”