A POLICE officer at the centre of a controversial employment tribunal has lost her family as well as her job, her husband claimed today.

Glenn Macbean, of Baxenden, claimed that Reehaina Saddique, 29, joined the force against her family's wishes 10 years ago and had now lost everything because of a sexual harassment claim against a colleague who went on to commit suicide.

PC Saddique alleged that PC Paul Wilkinson harassed her while they worked at Lea police station, near Preston. He was accused of stroking her head, giving her a saucer of milk and calling her the 'office cat', police slang for officers who rarely leave the station.

PC Saddique decided not to proceed with an employment tribunal action against Lancashire police after a 'compromise agreement' was announced in August.

The action was brought after an internal police inquiry had decided no formal proceeding should be taken against PC Wilkinson, 37, of New Longton, near Preston.

Mr Macbean said: "I want people to know the full facts but we are unable to speak out. We were sent an undertaker's brochure the day before the tribunal and I would certainly advise any Asian thinking of joining Lancashire police not to do so."

PC Wilkinson committed suicide by shooting himself while stationed in Leyland last year. His wife told an inquest that news that the tribunal was to go ahead but would be delayed proved to be the last straw.

Mr Macbean, 40, said: "Reehaina's family did not want her to join the police so she gave them up and now has no contact with them.

"She had a brilliant career ahead of her but it is in ruins. This business has destroyed her life. Her personality has completely changed. She has lost a lot of weight and is on anti-depressants."

The mother of two, on long-term sick leave since making the allegations, dropped the harassment claims last month and is due to leave the force on October 22 as part of the 'compromise agreement' with Lancashire Police.

PC Saddique was a prominent member of the Black Police Officers' Association and her husband said: "A lot of this has come through jealousy because, though only a PC, she had a movie star role, speaking at conferences".

"I know people are saying we pursued the case beyond the grave. I am not the richest man in the world but we are not skint either and don't need the money.

"We settled because we thought we had them on the ropes but we hadn't -- and if we pursued it any further we would have had to pay."

Police said the compromise was agreed after 'careful consideration' of the case and factors affecting PC Saddique, the family of Paul Wilkinson and staff who would have been witnesses at the tribunal.