DETECTIVE Constable Dee Mazurkiewicz has been awarded around £150,000 after winning a landmark industrial tribunal citing sexual harassment against Thames Valley Police.

The tribunal heard Det Con Mazurkiewicz, 42, was nicknamed "massive cleavage" by CID colleagues. She is the country's first woman police officer to win such a claim from a tribunal.

She said: "I'm feeling very, very emotional. I've lost my job but I've won my case and I feel vindicated, but I've lost an awful lot as well."

A police source said the award was around £150,000, although it is understood that Miss Mazurkiewicz, a detective who worked in the Aylesbury and Princes Risborough areas, will receive another lump sum for pension accrued.

She is earning up to £21,000 a year with the force, but will retire with an ill health pension on Sunday.

The tribunal in Reading ruled unanimously in November that Det Con Mazurkiewicz had been sexually harassed then victimised after she complained.

The hearing reconvened on Wednesday for compensation to be decided. The parties spent the morning in intense negotiations before an agreement was reached behind closed doors.

Thames Valley Police Assistant Chief Constable Paul West said on Wednesday: "Both sides agreed to settle prior to the hearing today."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.