Noella Huggins said she felt vindicated

Describing Ms Huggins as a shy, truthful individual, the tribunal chairman said she had been subjected to "overt racist behaviour".

Working as a secretary for Gwent Police in their Newport criminal justice department, she had been the target of sustained abuse.

The tribunal heard how 58-year-old Ken Leverson racially harassed, intimidated and bullied Ms Huggins over a period of five years.

Ms Huggins from the Pillgwenlly area of Newport, said Mr Leverson once strode up to her desk and aggressively kicked her drawer.

She said he used to stare at her and had used a small mirror on his desk to look at her and make jokes with another colleague.

Then she recalled how in January 1999, Mr Leverson told a colleague to "watch this" before calling her a "nigger" in front of other staff in the open plan office.

Mr Leverson denied the accusations.

At the time I felt isolated and humiliated and the office joke

Noella Huggins

"When I was in the office I behaved like a gentleman to the best of my ability," he told the tribunal.

The hearing said it was satisfied that she had been abused because she was the only black person in the office.

As Mr Leverson's employer, Gwent Police were also liable because of their failure to act.

In a statement today, Gwent Police said that they accepted the findings of the tribunal and that it was now time to agree a way forward.

Mr Leverson's legal team said: "(Our client) has been severely affected and extremely distressed by the allegations of racist behaviour made against him and maintains that he has done nothing wrong."

The tribunal will reconvene at a later date to discuss the issue of remedy and compensation.

And medical evidence will be called to show how Ms Huggins health has suffered as a result of the period of sustained abuse.

Speaking after the hearing, Ms Huggins said: "At the time I felt isolated and humiliated and the office joke.

"It has been a hard struggle and I am pleased to have been vindicated."