AN Asian police officer is said to have been driven to the brink of suicide by white colleagues who sent him hate mail and urinated on his bed.

PC Jeffrey Sidhu, 34, and two other officers are preparing to sue North-umbria Police over allegations that they suffered years of racist abuse.

PC Sidhu first launched tribunal proceedings in December 1999. By last June, he was suspended from duty accused of trying to falsely claim compensation for injuries from a crash in a police car.

He stood trial at Newcastle Crown Court but a judge threw out the charge in September, ruling there was no case to answer.

PC Sidhu, who has been with the force for ten years, said his bed was urinated on and racist notes were left in his room when he was at a training college in Warrington, Cheshire.

Tony Smikle, of the National Black Police Association (NBPA) said: "He has tried to kill himself over this. He has been pushed to the brink."

PC Sidhu, who is a serving officer with the force, did not wish to comment.

Two other officers, Sergeant Rashid Hussain and Sergeant Pinder Singh, are also taking action against the force.

NBPA president Ravi Chand said he was concerned that all three officers who started employment tribunal proceed- ings were subsequently accused of internal and criminal offences.

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said the force could not comment on pending cases.

But she said: "We take matters of discrimination seriously and thoroughly investigate any matters brought to our attention."