Cllr Paul Tweed pleaded guilty in court last week to making indecent images of children

A former mayor of Merseyside who pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children was governor of a local primary school, the ECHO can reveal.

On Tuesday we reported how Cllr Paul Tweed, who represents Litherland on Sefton Council, was arrested, charged and pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children. He will be sentenced for his crimes next month and has been expelled from the Labor Party.

Court records show Tweed, of York Close in Netherton, pleaded guilty to three charges of taking indecent photographs/pseudo photographs of children at his home between September 9, 2020 and May 13, 2024. He also pleaded guilty to possessing indecent photographs /pseudophotos. -photos of children.

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Merseyside Police confirmed Tweed, 61, was arrested on September 24 as part of an ongoing sexual offenses investigation. The next day he appeared in court. He will be sentenced next month.

Tweed was first elected to Sefton Council in 1992 and held a number of senior positions in local government, including the Cabinet Portfolio for Business Services and Performance between 2012 and 2015. He became Mayor of Sefton for the year 2008/09. attending countless events as the borough’s first citizen.

But in addition to his role on the council, official documents show Tweed was also previously headteacher at St Benedict’s Primary School in Bootle. It is not clear from the municipal archives when he fulfilled this position. The ECHO has contacted the school for comment.

The Sefton Labor group said “immediate action” was needed to remove Tweed as a member after becoming aware of his offences, but despite Sefton Council asking him to resign following his guilty pleas last week, he remains currently an elected member of the council. as independent sitting.

A Sefton Council spokesperson said: “We were extremely shocked to hear of these allegations and the subsequent admission of guilt and have written to councilor Paul Tweed asking him to resign with immediate effect. As a council, this is completely at odds with our values ​​and high standards that the public expects and deserves. We will support the police investigation in every possible way.”

A statement from the Sefton Labor Group said: “We are deeply concerned to hear of these disturbing allegations. Immediate action was taken and we can confirm that Councilor Tweed is no longer a member of the Sefton Labor Group or the Labor Party.”

Tweed will appear for sentencing at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on November 6 to allow time for a preliminary report to be obtained.