'You have bigger boobs than I expected': Female cop, 29, who was left with PTSD after horrific sexual harassment at work sues for nearly $900,000 in damages
Christie Lee Turner, 29, is suing the Queensland Government for nearly $900,000 in damages over harassment and bullying she endured
A cop who was sexually harassed at work has been vindicated after the government admitted to a nude photo scandal.
Christie Lee Turner, 29, is suing the Queensland Government for nearly $900,000 in damages over harassment and bullying she endured at Murgon Police Station between 2015 and 2017.
A male police officer stole topless photos of Ms Turner from a personal USB she left on a work computer, a court heard.
Ms Turner said she suffers post traumatic stress disorder as a result of 'ridicule, humiliation and denigration' by officer-in-charge Sergeant Kenneth Slatter, the Sunshine Coast Daily reports.
The State Government admitted she was sexually harassed by Senior Constable Aaron Meyrick in 2015, as well as bullied by Sgt Slatter.
'When Senior Constable Meyrick copied and retained photographs of the plaintiff in which she was topless, and made inappropriate comments to her about the photographs during the performance of their work duties,' the state government said in a Notice of Intention to Defend.
Ms Turner claimed Sen-Constable Meyrick found her personal USB stick which had been left plugged into a work computer.
He then five topless photos she had taken for her boyfriend at the time, she said, and made personal comments about them.
Ms Turner claimed Sen-Constable Meyrick searched through her personal USB on a work computer and found five topless photos she had taken for her boyfriend at the time
'You have bigger boobs than I expected,' Sen-Constable Meyrick told Ms Turner.
Ms Turner said the acknowledgement from the government is the first step in making sure other female police officers aren't subjected to sexual harassment.
She is now medically retired on Work Cover, and relies on her PTSD assistance dog Buddy who calms her during panic attacks.
'I am completely devastated to have lost my chance to have succeeded in a career that I loved and worked so hard for,' she said.
Ms Turner said the embarrassment she suffered at the hands of Sen-Constable Meyrick and Sgt Slatter led to nightmares, panic attacks and thoughts of self harm.
Her lawyer Travis Schultz said next step will be a mediation and if that fails to achieve a resolution, a trial in the Supreme Court.
'What they have not admitted is the extent to which (the harassment) caused the psychological condition that has ended Ms Turner's career in the Queensland Police Service,' Mr Schultz said.
Queensland Police hasen't revealed if any disciplinary action will be taken against Sgt Slatter and Sen-Constable Meyrick.
Senior Constable Aaron Meyrick took topless photos of Ms Turner from a personal USB she left on a work computer, the court heard