A WOMAN "couldn't stop crying" after being made to feel "disgusting and degraded" by police – for being topless in her own house.
Karen Trainor invited the officer into her Billingham home, in Stockton-on-Tees, for an interview – but claimed he was "disgusted" to see her open the door without a top on.
The 64-year-old breast cancer survivor had undergone a double mastectomy and is now proud to show off the tattoos which cover her scars.
But, Karen's new found body confidence was "knocked back" after her interaction with the officer.
She told Teesside Live: "When I'm at home I just don't even think about putting a top on and everyone I know is really lovely about it.
"A policeman was coming to speak to interview someone and I said it could be done in my house. I had friends and family round and I opened the door and welcomed him in.
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"He looked at me and stepped back outside and said: 'I'm not coming in until you put a top on'.
"I asked what he meant, he put his hand up towards me and looked away in disgust, he couldn't even look at me. I was shocked and horrified, everyone in the house was looking shocked."
And Karen claims the officer continued to be rude once inside her home – even when she had covered herself.
He wouldn't let her finish a sentence before bluntly asking "have you put a top on yet", according to the cancer survivor.
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"I was shocked and horrified," she added.
"After he had gone I couldn't get over it and I couldn't stop crying."
The 64-year-old explained she tried to contact Cleveland Police about the shocking encounter but "they didn't want to know."
"I feel like they weren't interested in hearing how I felt because of it and how degrading it was. He made me feel as if I was indecent," she continued.
A Force spokesperson said: “Officers must adhere to certain procedures when filming body worn video footage in homes of members of the public.
“If anyone is unhappy with any interaction with an officer, surrounding body worn cameras or otherwise, we would encourage them to report their complaint by calling 101 or completing an online form on the Cleveland Police website.”
But, Karen remains hopeful her tattoos will inspire other breast cancer survivors to feel confident in their bodies.
She said: "I've had people say they have breast cancer and I'll have to have them removed and it terrifies me but I see you and it gives me hope."
This comes as others hope to provide comfort for women in a similar position.
One young woman deals with being harassed by trolls online for deciding to celebrate her unique looking chest.
Stephanie Germino, now 29, has known since she was 15 that her risk of breast cancer was extremely high.
At just 27, the mum-of-one from Florida in the US decided to have a double mastectomy.
But, nasty trolls comment on her social media posts, which aim to raise awareness, telling her to "put a shirt on".
This doesn't stop her trying to inspire other women who have undergone a mastectomy.
Stephanie said: "For anyone feeling insecure, comments like I get could put them in a really bad place.
"But for me – I am so confident in my decision and my flat chest, that I just don't care!"
Meanwhile, Lauren Mahon, who was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in 2016, aged only 31, she has also come to see it as a positive.
The podcast host has now launched a new range of bras with PrettyLittleThing for women who have had mastectomies.
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