A DEAL has been struck between a sacked deputy chief constable and a police force over wages paid to him while he was suspended.

It is understood that Derek Bonnard will not now pursue an appeal against the dismissal or an action claiming sexual discrimination.

In return Cleveland Police will not sue Mr Bonnard for £40,000 in wages paid to him while he was suspended.

In a statement, Cleveland Police Chief Constable, Jacqui Cheer, said: “All outstanding matters between Mr Bonnard and the force have been brought to a conclusion.”

Mr Bonnard, 50, was found guilty early last month of six counts of gross misconduct by an independent panel following an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The former deputy chief, who has always maintained his innocence, lodged a formal appeal against the decision saying he had been treated with “scant regard paid to providing a fair hearing”. A criminal inquiry against Mr Bonnard was dropped due to lack of evidence.

Mr Bonnard also claimed sexual discrimination in the appointment of the new chief constable instead of himself. However, both the appeal and the sexual discrimination claim have now been dropped.

The former policeman, who was being paid £118,000-a-year, was on full pay for almost 20 months amounting to about £200,000 following his suspension.

However, Cleveland Police were only trying to recover £40,000 because at a High Court hearing last November Mr Bonnard’s legal team indicated he would pay back salary from that point if he were to lose his job.

Mr Bonnard said only that his comment was the same as that offered by Cleveland Police.

Sean Price, former chief constable of Cleveland Police, was sacked last October for gross misconduct after being suspended from his job in August, 2011.

Mr Price is still on bail following his arrest as part of the police Operation Sacristy investigation.

He told The Northern Echo he intended to appeal his sacking once the criminal investigation was dealt with and he was able to call on witnesses now involved with Operation Sacristy.

He said that in fact his wages were paid by the former Cleveland Police Authority and latterly elected Crime and Police Commissioner Barry Coppinger and not directly by Cleveland Police in any case.