Three senior West Midlands Police officers accused of a "witch hunt" against a female colleague have been cleared of misconduct.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission was called in to investigate the trio following complaints by former Detective Chief Superintendent Ellie Baker (pictured).
She alleged she had been treated unfairly during an 11-month investigation into claims she manipulated a pensioner, Professor Norman Dudley, into giving her gifts.
The IPCC inquiry, led by West Yorkshire Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn, was tasked with assessing whether the original inquiry - which reportedly cost more than #2 million - was a proportionate response to the allegations made against Ms Baker.
Mr Cramphorn found no evidence of breaches of police conduct regulations on the part of Deputy Chief Constable Chris Sims or Superintendent Mick Treble, or Matt Baggot, who was West Midlands Deputy Chief Constable at the time the complaint was made and is now Chief Constable of the Leicestershire force.
The IPCC report found there were allegations against Ms Baker which she needed to answer but no evidence that she had been subjected to a campaign of isolation during the inquiry.
Mr Cramphorn concluded that a great deal of effort had gone into ensuring fairness for Ms Baker and that substantial deliberation had gone into considering her feelings in such a sensitive investigation.
No further action will be taken against the officers.
Chief Constable Paul Scott-Lee said: "The three officers tasked directly with managing and conducting this delicate inquiry acted with care, sensitivity and professionalism."
Previous Post articles on this story:
Detective suspended over 'external matter'
Complaint over Ellie Baker case
Police decision was just a 'slap on the wrist'
Professor guarded by police camera
Ex-detective's 113 complaints against region's police chiefs
Inquiry over senior police officers' conduct in Ellie Baker case
