A FORMER police officer has secured a substantial payout from Police Scotland over claims she was sexually harassed by a male colleague who had an "unusual obsession" with sex crimes.

The female officer, who cannot be named for legal reasons, raised an action suing the force for £200,000 claiming superiors failed to act on her concerns about another officer who "unnecessarily attempted to discuss the details of sex crimes" with her.

The woman claimed he "invaded her personal space" and "touched her every time he passed her".

She also alleged that Police Scotland's failure to act on her complaints amounted to a "breach of duties of reasonable care".

Lawyer Peter Crooks, who acted on behalf of the pursuer, confirmed the action settled prior to the court hearing, but refused to reveal the amount paid out.

However, he added: "She is very pleased with agreed settlement. She now views the matter as closed and wishes to move on with her life."

Court papers reveal the officers began working together within an area of Strathclyde Police in 2010.

They state the male officer had been moved there due to allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards other female colleagues.

The documents add: "From the first day the pursuer met [her colleague] she felt uncomfortable in his presence. Within a week of them working together [he] began invading her personal space.

"She felt intimidated, alarmed and distressed by this behaviour."

The papers also state: "[He] had an unusual obsession with sex crimes. Whenever a sex crime was reported, [he] would endeavour to know the most intricate details, regardless of whether he had been assigned to deal with the matter or whether it had happened within his designated sub-division."

The woman claims she reported her concerns to superiors, however Police Scotland's response in court documents says she did not disclose the allegations about his obsession with sex crimes and only told of feeling intimidated because he stood close to her.

The force found that the officer involved did not intend to cause problems by doing so.

The PC claimed she began to have panic attacks and developed an anxiety disorder and was signed off work in July 2011 for three months.

When she returned, she was transferred to another office but still had to speak to the officer on occasion.

She was later signed off sick again and took the decision to retire due to ill health in March 2013, after 30 years' service with the force.

Police Scotland denied her claims, however a spokeswoman for the force confirmed a settlement had been agreed with their former employee.

The officer accused of harassing her was cleared of sexually assaulting three female colleagues in 2012 and no longer works at the force.