A disciplinary panel will today rule whether a female police chief committed gross misconduct when she launched a drunken tirade at a junior colleague about the size of her breasts.

Assistant Chief Constable Rebekah Sutcliffe 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 breasts.

Ms Sutcliffe, 47, who was the most senior female Greater Manchester Police officer at the time, verbally attacked her younger subordinate following a gala dinner at the national senior women in policing conference last May.

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.”

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.

On Tuesday, the panel was told that Ms Jackson, who has since transferred to Cumbria Constabulary, had suffered “great anxiety from the night itself and since”.

Following media coverage of the incident, she said she had been “pilloried” on social media, including the Twitter hashtag Titgate referencing the events.

An online poll had also been conducted on her breasts, she said.

Ms Jackson, who was not present at the hearing, said: “It has been the most distressing and hurtful experience of my life.”

Fiona Barton QC, representing Greater Manchester Police, said Ms Sutcliffe’s conduct at the conference was so serious that dismissal would be justified.

Ms Sutcliffe admits misconduct in breaching standards of professional behaviour but argues it does not amount to gross misconduct.

Her actions over a short period of time when in drink was to be contrasted against her “many years of distinguished and impressive public service”, it was said on her behalf.

The hearing was told that former GMP chief constable Sir Peter Fahy had twice promoted Ms Sutcliffe and felt she had the potential to reach the highest rank.