A senior police boss who exposed her breasts to a junior female officer during a drunken hour-long tirade against her ‘boob job’ has been found guilty of gross misconduct.

But an independent panel has recommended that Assistant Chief Constable Rebekah Sutcliffe, 47, should be allowed to keep her job and instead be handed a final written warning.

It concluded the only reasons she should be spared is that she is trying to address her behaviour - she is undergoing therapy - and that she was regarded by her peers as an exemplary senior officer.

Now Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling, who formally brought the case against the ACC, must decide whether to accept the panel’s recommendation.

(Image: Mercury Press)

He is expected to hold another public hearing in the new year to announce his decision.

The chair of the panel Rachel Crasnow QC said at the conclusion of the hearing, held at GMP’s headquarters in Newton Heath on Thursday: “ACC Sutcliffe allowed herself to drink too much and when drunk behaved shockingly, cruelly and hurtfully to Supt Jackson. She stupidly exposed her breasts.”

Her behaviour had been ‘gratuitous’ and the senior officer had been ‘hectoring and bullying’ during a verbal assault which had lasted more then hour and caused her target ‘considerable upset’.

Ms Crasnow added that the ACC’s conduct had been ‘aggressive, bullying and cruel’ and ‘her behaviour fell far, far below that to be expected by any officer and also a role model of her high rank’.

But the panel was swayed by dozens of glowing testimonials praising her abilities and begging for her to be given a second chance.

The chair continued: “This case has taken ACC Sutcliffe to the very precipice of dismissal. What’s saved her is her contrition and the steps she’s taken and continues to take to reform herself and the very high professional esteem in which she’s justly held as evidenced by more than 100 testimonials.”

The panel had earlier heard how ACC Sutcliffe, one of the most senior female officers in the country, pulled down her dress to reveal her left boob before telling the object of her ire: “Look at these. Look at these. These are the breasts of someone who has had three children. They are ugly but I don’t feel the need to pump myself full of silicone to get self-esteem.”

Her outburst was aimed at a junior colleague, Superintendent Sarah Jackson, who was left in tears.

Supt Jackson later told investigators she hadn’t even had breast enhancement surgery.

ACC Sutcliffe admitted she had become ‘very drunk’ after performing the keynote speech at a gala dinner following a three-day conference for senior women in policing in May and that she had been using alcohol as a ‘coping mechanism’.

Her outburst started in the mezzanine bar of Manchester’s Hilton Hotel where she told Supt Jackson she was considered a ‘laughing stock’ among senior officers because she had had a ‘boob job’ and suggested her career was over.

It was witnessed by a few shocked members of hotel staff and continued in the hotel foyer.

The two-day disciplinary hearing heard evidence that Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, who was also at the event, had become concerned and irritated at ACC Sutcliffe’s drunkenness and had asked Supt Jackson to make sure she got back to her room at another hotel.

Despite a series of grovelling apologies from ACC Sutcliffe, a formal complaint was made and the three times-married mother-of-three from Saddleworth, earning £109,000-a-year, was suspended on full pay.

ACC Sutcliffe immediately sought help from a therapist - she has had ten sessions.

During the two-day disciplinary hearing, she argued she was under immense pressure due to her own personal circumstances and work - her portfolio had included counter terrorism and serious crime.

Following the hearing, ACC Sutcliffe declined to comment although Supt Jackson, who was not present, said in a statement: “I am pleased that this panel hearing has concluded. The entire incident, including the incorrect reports of my involvement in it, has been distressing for both me and my family.

“The event has been characterised within the media as an argument and a competition between ACC Rebekah Sutcliffe and I, but as far as I am concerned it was nothing of the sort. I was not a willing participant in the incident and I did not bring up or wish to speak to her about anything personal.

“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 by it, as these are two things I care very deeply about. ACC Sutcliffe herself recognises I was not at fault and has apologised to me several times.

“I have been a police officer for 21 years and I want to now concentrate on continuing to serve the public as I have done for the whole of my career.”