THE result of a tribunal involving a police force's head of legal services and allegations about senior officers having affairs will not be known for five weeks, the parties have been told.

Denise Aubrey, 54, brought a claim for unfair dismissal, discrimination and harassment against her former employers Northumbria Police.

She was sacked for gross misconduct in 2014 despite 20 years of service, after apparently telling staff details of the allegations involving ex-Chief Constable Mike Craik.

Rumours had circulated in the force that in 2007 Mr Craik had an affair with Assistant Chief Constable Carolyn Peacock, and that her husband Jim punched him at a barbecue.

It was also said that this information was covered up.

Mr Craik and the Peacocks continue to deny the allegations.

Ms Aubrey was also said to have disclosed information that Assistant Chief Constable Greg Vant had an affair with Mr Craik's secretary.

Mr Vant has denied that they got together at work, and has stated that their relationship only started when they left Northumbria Police.

Ms Aubrey, in her role as director of legal services, gave professional advice at the time about both allegations.

The tribunal began on May 3 and has been the source of lurid headlines about the alleged affairs.

Tribunal Judge Humphrey Forrester told the hearing he would reserve judgement and the decision should be handed to the parties in around five weeks.

On the final day of the tribunal in North Shields, Angus Moon QC, for the police, made closing submissions about Ms Aubrey's alleged disclosure of confidential information in 2013.

He said: "She made reference to the personal conduct of the two named former chief officers, Mr Craik and Mr Vant.

"She did so in order to demonstrate how good her relationship with these former chief officers had been.

"She had no proper grounds to share that information."

Ms Aubrey has told the hearing she suffered from mental health issues.

In her closing submissions for the claimant, Daphne Romney QC said the information Ms Aubrey was said to have discussed could not have been confidential, as she was only speaking to other legal staff in her department.

In any case, knowledge of the allegations was widespread, she told the hearing, and journalists had tried to confirm the story at the time.

Ms Romney added: "It is obvious the topic of Mr Craik and Mr Peacock and an alleged scuffle went around the force like wildfire."

The tribunal decision will not include any judgement on whether the allegations of staff having affairs were true.