A POLICE force today apologised to a rookie female officer who claimed she was victimised after having a one-night stand with a senior constable.

WPc Sarah Lond, 30, said she felt "humiliated and disgusted" when she was accused of making up the affair after the man involved denied it had happened.

But while she was reprimanded on a dishonesty charge the male officer, Pc Justin Browne, was promoted to acting sergeant.

She claimed she suffered from "stress and anxiety" after both her work and sex life were placed under a spotlight by her senior officers who investigated her.

WPc Lond, who is now married, took Hampshire police to an industrial tribunal but withdrew her case for sex discrimination yesterday after the force said sorry.

Geoff Crowe, of the Police Federation which represented WPc Lond, said: "Hampshire police have apologised with-out admitting any liability and that's the end of the matter.

"They have apologised for 'intrusive investigations' into WPc Lond's private life and her medical condition.

"WPc Lond is very happy with the settlement and happy with the apology she has received.

"There has been no application for costs or compensation and she is now looking forward to working with the force in the future."

WPc Lond joined Hampshire police in 1996 and was on a two-year probation period when she slept with Pc Browne, 28, a year later.

She told the tribunal at Southampton: "It started at a barbecue we had and I offered to give him a lift home. He invited me in and things went from there.

"At the time both of us were single and I thought it was nothing more than a one- night stand. It was a one-off."

She said after an internal inquiry at Bitterne police station, Southampton, she was transferred to nearby Gosport where she claimed the victimisation continued.

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