A female police chief has escaped the sack after she launched a drunken tirade at a junior colleague about the size of her breasts.

Assistant Chief Constable Rebekah Sutcliffe, of Greater Manchester Police (GMP), told Superintendent Sarah Jackson that her "credibility was zero" after she had a "boob job" and berated her as a "laughing stock" who would be judged professionally "on the size of her tits".

She then went on to pull down the front of her dress to expose her left breast and say: "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."

Following a misconduct hearing late last year, a disciplinary panel ruled that she had breached standards of professional behaviour.

But GMP Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling ruled on Monday that she could keep her job.

The panel had stated her gross misconduct had taken her to "the very precipice of dismissal" but accepted it was out of character and recommended a final written warning would suffice.

Ms Sutcliffe, who was the most senior female GMP officer at the time, verbally attacked her younger subordinate following a gala dinner at the national Senior Women in Policing Conference last May.

The haranguing in the early hours of May 6 at Manchester's Hilton Hotel concluded when Ms Sutcliffe told her colleague she was no longer going to support a further promotion for her.

Ms Jackson, who was appointed by Ms Sutcliffe as a temporary superintendent in a secondment role, later said she was "shocked, mortified, embarrassed and ashamed" at the comments made by her superior.

She added that she had suffered "great anxiety from the night itself and since".

Ms Sutcliffe's counsel, John Beggs QC, had handed the panel more than 200 pages of testimonials with many officers speaking of Ms Sutcliffe as "inspirational", "visionary" and "a strong leader".

One unnamed female detective chief inspector at GMP said she is "a role model to many women in the organisation".

Mr Beggs said she remained a role model, with "human frailties", who would "emerge as an even impressive senior leader" if allowed to.

Announcing his decision at the force's HQ to follow the panel's recommendation, Mr Pilling said: "Despite being absolutely appalled at her behaviour and all too aware of the damage to public confidence I do not think I can take a different view without any significant reason to do so."

Ms Sutcliffe today released a statement through police. 

She said: "I would like to repeat the apology that I have already given to Sarah Jackson, to the Chief Constable and to my colleagues.

"I deeply regret what happened and the impact it has had upon those people. I continue to feel very ashamed that I behaved in this way.

"I would also like to apologise now to the public - for the unpleasant nature of the incident and for the fact that I have let them down.

"The responsibility for what happened is mine and mine alone. At the time of the incident, I was under significant personal and professional pressure.

"In this context I foolishly became drunk, and as a result behaved in a way that is entirely at odds with the way I conduct myself on a daily basis and with the person and senior leader that I want to be.

"I did not mean any of the things that I said and I am dismayed that I was so unkind and unfair.

"I hold Sarah Jackson in high esteem, and prior to this incident consistently supported her and many others over a number of years with professional development and progression.

"Since the incident, through the support of professional counselling and my family and friends, I have reflected carefully on what has happened and taken steps to ensure this never happens again. I am determined to continue on this path.

"I am passionately committed to the work of Greater Manchester Police and to public service.

"I have always sought to treat victims, the vulnerable, the wider public and my colleagues with care and respect and to promote this behaviour in others.

"I am very grateful that I have been given the opportunity to return to work. On my return, I will bring the very best of my abilities to serve policing and the public as well as I am able.

"What I did was wrong, and I apologise for it. I now look forward to getting back to serving the community I love."

In a statement about today’s disciplinary hearing, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said: "I have had a chance to read the written report of Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling given to the hearing today.

"As the appropriate authority for misconduct matters DCC Pilling had carefully considered the independent panel’s report before accepting the findings at today’s hearing.

"This has been an incredibly difficult time for Greater Manchester Police and the wider Police Service. Today we accepted the recommendation of the independent panel in relation to the future of ACC Sutcliffe.

"The panel had made a decision at the end of last year that the behaviour of ACC Sutcliffe was gross misconduct.

"They considered all of the facts and mitigation over two days and recommended she should remain in public service and receive a final written warning.

"The Government created independent panels with legally qualified chairs and public hearings to increase openness and transparency. It has led to a situation nationally where gross misconduct findings do not always lead to dismissal.

"There are officers that have remained within GMP and other Forces, with final written warnings, after a finding of gross misconduct by an independent panel. The decision in this case is not unique.

"The two phase process that only exists for chief officers has left us in a difficult situation and I am writing to the Home Office to call for the process to be standardised for all police officers.

"The details in the report have clearly outlined the panel’s position and legally left little alternative but to follow the panel’s recommendation.

"The matter should have been concluded at the original hearing for the sake of all concerned and Greater Manchester Police.

"The events in May last year cast a shadow over what was an important event to recognise the contribution of women in policing. When I was made aware of what happened I immediately arranged for an outside force to investigate and ACC Sutcliffe was suspended from duty.

"ACC Sutcliffe has been through a completely open, transparent and independent misconduct process.

"What is important now is that we move forward. ACC Sutcliffe has by her own admission behaved in an unacceptable manner and has apologised at the outset.

"ACC Sutcliffe has been given a chance to demonstrate that she is committed to serving the people of Greater Manchester. We will now work with her to consider how she best achieves this in support of Greater Manchester Police."