JUDGE Roger Dutton has ordered police chiefs to answer claims that sex case councillor Liam Temple was tipped off about abuse allegations by officers before he was arrested.

During Temple's three-day trial it was claimed the ex-mayor had been told about possible prosecution by a friend who in turn had been told by a Runcorn police officer.

The judge said: 'This is of grave concern to me.

'There is to be a thorough investigation because it appears that a police officer has caused the defendant to be tipped off in advance (of his arrest) and, if true, that is a serious matter.'

And on Friday, before sentencing Temple to six months, the judge demanded that Cheshire Police provide him with an explanation.

The claims of an early warning came in a statement from the 12-year-old girl's father. He said he did not report the offence for months because he thought Temple's position as a councillor and his police connections meant no-one would believe them.

When Judge Dutton questioned Temple later in the trial, he admitted he had been warned about the allegations.

'A friend's friend is a police officer who works in Halton and they had a conversation about these allegations,' Temple told the judge.

'The lady told me some time after that she had heard this allegation about me interfering with a young girl but I said I didn't know what she was talking about and denied it fully.

'I did nothing about it until the police came knocking.'

Cheshire Police said that an internal investigation into the claims has been launched.

Pillar of town's fall from grace >>>

Pillar of town's fall from grace

LIAM Temple was a pillar of the community in Runcorn's deprived Castlefields ward.

As a local councillor and charity worker, who ironically campaigned against child abuse, Temple was loved and respected by the neighbourhood.

Now, however, he has been exposed as a pervert convicted of abusing a young girl in a 'foul and disgusting' manner. On Friday night he began a six-month prison service.

Temple was arrested last September at his home - where the incident took place - and charged with inciting a child under the age of 16 to commit an act of gross indecency.

Last month he was found guilty and resigned from the council which had been the focus of his life for so many years.

Temple, a widower, offered the girl cash in return for being allowed to touch her while she played computer games in his office.

Her father had left earlier. He later found out about it from the mother of another girl, in whom his daughter had confided and who urged him to tell police.

Simon Burkeson, defending, said the victim and her father made up the story about his client.

Temple, a former Ford worker and councillor of 22 years, said because of his position in the community he was always careful not to be left alone with anyone in his house.

'As a councillor I will not meet any single lone person on my own,' he said he told police. 'If they didn't get what they wanted, anything could be said.'

However, Simon Mills, prosecuting, said: 'This was no more than a few minutes of madness but it amounts to a criminal offence.'

Judge Roger Dutton told him: 'You have been convicted of a squalid attempt to obtain sexual gratification from a girl. This is a very serious offence. The country at large and Castlefields in Runcorn in particular are entitled to know the truth.'

'I won't doubt him now or ever' >>>

'I won't doubt him now or ever'

THE family of Liam Temple are urging Halton residents to write letters of support for the disgraced former mayor.

His daughter Claire Fox had launched a desperate campaign to clear her dad's name and say they will appeal against the verdict.

She told the Weekly News: 'He is guilty of being trusting and naive.

'My father is a man who started a drop-in centre for children to feel safe. He is a man who has always protected children's rights, who helped set up summer play schemes for children.

'I do know that I know him and trust him wholeheartedly. I will not doubt him now or ever and I would have no worries at all leaving any of my children in his care.

'Don't let the justice system fail an innocent man.'