A council chief executive at the centre of a secret investigation is in "deep despair", The Argus can reveal.

Sheryl Grady, Worthing Borough Council's £80,000-a-year chief officer, has been off sick on full pay since December, suffering work-related stress.

The Argus cannot publish full details of an allegation made against her in the middle of last year for legal reasons.

All 36 Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors have been ordered not to discuss the affair while a four-person cross-party committee conducts an internal inquiry.

Now Miss Grady's husband David Siegler has attacked the authority in a letter to the council and all councillors which has been seen by The Argus.

He wrote: "I am outraged at the callous and cruel manner in which the council is conducting current matters, especially the disciplinary matter with respect to my wife.

"I have watched in dismay at the pressure, over and above that of her normal duties, that has been imposed on her, in particular over the last nine months."

Mr Siegler explained how papers had been served upon his wife at 8am on a Monday in October after the couple had been on holiday.

He wrote: "The disciplinary process has progressed but the behaviour of the council towards the chief executive has been so Draconian that I would not have believed it possible of a responsible employer taking proper personnel advice."

The continuing inquiry was having a significant, detrimental effect on his wife's health.

He wrote: "I was so concerned at her condition that I made her an appointment with her doctor who signed her off work with work-related depression, with particular reference to the disciplinary matter and the manner of its transaction by the council.

"You must be aware that I have known Sheryl Grady for 30 years and throughout that period have always found her to be a rock of fortitude, courage and honesty.

"Her sickness record in 24 years' service (11 at Worthing Borough Council) in local government is exemplary. For this matter to have this effect on her, she must be in deep despair at the council's treatment."

Mr Siegler warned he would complain to the Local Government Ombudsman, the District Auditor, Worthing MPs Tim Loughton and Peter Bottomley and the Standards Board for England.

In Miss Grady's absence, the council is being jointly run by two senior officers, director of services Tim Everett and director of resources Alan Smith.

The special personnel committee, which last met on February 4, consists of Lib Dem councillors John Lovell and Donald Lissenburg and Tory councillors Peter Welch and John Livermore.

The GMB union is representing a council employee believed to have made allegations against Miss Grady, including her style of management.

Frank Minal, regional organiser of the GMB, said: "I am in a position where I cannot talk to you at all because I have a conflict of interest, possibly with your newspaper. Whoever is feeding you information is a difficulty for me."