Chief Inspector Julia Pendry was cleared of making racist comments before a Sikh festival 17 months ago.

But the Metropolitan police officer said the idea she was racist stuck, fuelled by newspaper coverage and comments made by senior officers.

She says she was discriminated against on the grounds of sex and race. The Metropolitan Police deny the claim.

Ms Pendry said her promotion was withheld as a direct result of the racism complaint and because of a personal relationship with a borough commander.

The pain I felt at being branded a racist and then being discriminated against is as raw today as it was in November 2003 Julia Pendry

She faced a five-month inquiry into the comments she was said to have made in a briefing to officers just before the Sikh religious festival of Guru Nanak in November 2003.

The inquiry found the allegations to be unsubstantiated, but she was given "words of advice", a type of sanction, which appeared on her discipline file.

Now chief inspector of operations in Brent, Ms Pendry said the idea she had been found guilty of racism stuck with fellow officers.

And she claimed that the Metropolitan Police did not investigate her complaints or allow her to raise a grievance.

Allegations denied

She said: "I believe the complaint of racism against me was driven by very senior officers to obtain an outcome against me at all costs regardless of the evidence.

"I believe this is discriminatory behaviour on grounds of race and sex. The pain I felt at being branded a racist and then being discriminated against is as raw today as it was in November 2003.

"I have dedicated my entire adult life to policing and feel that the repercussions of my bringing this claim will continue."

The employment tribunal will hear her case on Thursday.

A Met spokesman said: "The Metropolitan Police Service denies these allegations and the commissioner will be represented by Oliver Segal."