A disgraced former Walsall councillor who left a computer memory stick containing child porn behind after a town hall meeting was arrested by police and charged with having images of Child Pornography.
A Black Country councillor resigned amid allegations he was in possession of child porn. Walsall Labour councillor Jonathan Phillips stood down after being arrested and bailed by police. The 53-year-old has represented the Birchills and Leamore ward for two years but resigned on Thursday.
Police investigated claims that indecent images were found on equipment allegedly belonging to Mr Phillips. No charges have yet been brought.
When approached at his home in Eastbourne Street today Mr Phillips said: "Allegations have been made as a result of which I have resigned from the council, at this stage I felt that was the best course of action."
Labour group leader councillor Tim Oliver confirmed the resignation saying: "Councillor Phillips informed me that he faces allegations linked to unsolicited but illicit material received through the internet."
The discovery was made after a council worker found the equipment belonging to Phillips in a meeting room at the Lichfield Street site. After loading the stick into the computer, they discovered the indecent images and was able to link the computer to Phillips.
Phillips, of Eastbourne Street, Walsall, resigned from his position as a Labour councillor for the Birchills and Leamore ward after he was arrested by police October 2008. He was suspended from his work at Wolverhampton City Council.
Miss Siobhan Wilkins, prosecuting, said Phillips received texts on his mobile phone but had accessed them by downloading from a website which he then copied onto the USB stick.
Mr Mahmood Hussain, defending, said "My client has never had any court record. This is totally out of character. When the police searched his home they found nothing untoward." he added "The charges relate to two images found on a computer memory stick given to him by someone else." "He looked at them and when he realised what they were he was going to report them to the police himself."
Phillips represented the old Hatherton and Rushall ward from 1995-99 and was then re-elected to serve Birchills and Leamore from 2006 before his resignation.
At Walsall Magistrates Court today the 53-year-old admitted two offences of making an indecent photo or pseudo-photo of a child. Phillips was fined £443 for his crimes, and was placed on the sex offenders register for two years. Along with the fine he was ordered to pay costs of £60 and a £15 victim surcharge.