A former Thames Valley police officer has been awarded £1.1million compensation after it was ruled she had been discriminated against.

Katrina Hibbert was ­suffering from post-­traumatic stress disorder and depression because of the stressful nature of her role working with young victims of sexual and drug exploitation in Cherwell and West Oxfordshire.

On the advice of an occupational health nurse she started up a party and events business as as a “positive outlet” to help her cope with the job.

With business interest approval from the force she began designing party tents.

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In May 2019 she was subsequently signed off sick with work-related stress after she learned a vulnerable young person she had been working with had died.

But while on sick leave her line ­manager Insp Craig Entwistle found she had been posting what he described as “upbeat and happy” content on her firm’s Facebook page.

Thames Valley Police withdrew permission for her to carry on with the business.

The force then started disciplinary proceedings against her for allegedly carrying on with her business after permission was withdrawn, the hearing was told.

Sergeant Hibbert felt unable to carry on working for Thames Valley Police and resigned, telling managers she was “not mentally strong enough to battle through a gross misconduct”.

The misconduct action later collapsed after it was found the force did not follow the business interest appeal procedure.

Ms Hibbert took her case to an employment tribunal, claiming discrimination.

This week the tribunal concluded that withdrawing permission for her to run the business while she was off sick had been “discrimination arising from her disability” and TVP had failed to make reasonable adjustments.

It also concluded her resignation amounted to unlawful constructive discriminatory dismissal.

Ms Hibbert was awarded about £1,168,000, which included cash for future financial losses.

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Ms Hibbert had been an Acting Inspector, and the award reflected the tribunal’s view that “absent the discriminatory treatment, she would have been promoted to Inspector in 2025 and worked full time until her retirement aged 60”.

Reacting to the tribunal’s judgment, Ms Hibbert said, “I am relieved that these proceedings are over.

"It has taken over five years and without the support of the Police Federation, and my family, I would not have had the strength to go through with this case.

"Thames Valley Police’s treatment of me left me completely mentally shattered and I had no alternative but to leave.

"If TVP had listened to me, and had treated me as the law requires, I would still be working for them in the career I loved.”