A POLICE force has paid £6,000 to a mother-of-two who said she was groped by a policeman.

Cheryl Robson, 22, was awarded the cash in an out-of-court settlement from Cleveland Police, despite former officer Andrew Shearer being cleared by a jury in 2001 of groping her bottom.

PC Shearer from Stockton, was moved to Middlesbrough from Redcar after a disciplinary hearing in June 2000 into a string of allegations brought by female shop workers in Redcar. Rather than sack him, Cleveland chief constable Barry Shaw fined PC Shearer £600, reduced his pay and moved him to Middlesbrough.

Mr Shearer appeared at Leeds Crown Court in August 2001 charged with indecent assault on Ms Robson who claimed he had groped her as she backed out of a police van, which she had entered to talk to officers inquiring into a burglary at Hemlington.

PC Shearer was then sacked last year after a disciplinary hearing into complaints brought by two other women.

Miss Robson brought a civil case against Mr Shearer for personal injury and against the chief constable for negligence.

The case was listed for a civil court where Mr Shearer's disciplinary record would have been admissible, but the force confirmed this week it had paid Ms Robson £6,000 in an out-of-court settlement.