THE former chief constable for Cheshire will find out his fate at a hearing next week following a long-running investigation into his alleged behaviour at the force.

Simon Byrne, who was suspended as chief constable of Cheshire Police last year, is accused of gross misconduct for allegedly breaching the standards of professional behaviour.

Mr Byrne, 55, is alleged to have bullied and belittled staff after moving from the Met Police to take up the top role at the Cheshire force in 2014.

But the former chief constable strenuously denied the allegations against him during a public inquiry earlier this year.

Gerry Boyle QC, defending Mr Byrne, said the process had been 'unfair'.

He said: “Whilst Mr Byrne may have had flaws, bad days, grumpy days and one or two occasions when impatience perhaps got the better of him, overall as leader he drove Cheshire forward and he succeeded in doing so.”

The independent panel, which was chaired by Rachel Crasnow, QC, will confirm their findings at a meeting at Warrington Town Hall on December 11 at 2pm.

The force is already seeking applicants for its vacant chief constable position as Cheshire Police have been without a chief constable since Mr Byrne was suspended last year.

While a verdict from a gross misconduct hearing into Mr Byrne’s actions will be made public next week, his contract with Cheshire Police has since lapsed.

Janette McCormick has held the post of acting chief constable with the force since Mr Byrne’s suspension.