Shamed ex-mayor told police he viewed child sex images 'by accident while browsing pornography'

Former Lord Mayor of Sefton Paul Tweed (pictured in 2008-9)
-Credit: (Image: No credit)


A former Merseyside Mayor and councillor convicted of child sex offences told police he had viewed sick images "by accident when browsing pornography". Paul Tweed, who previously represented the Litherland ward on Sefton Council, was initially charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a police investigation.

Tweed, 62, appeared before Wirral Magistrates' Court on September 25 this year where he pleaded guilty to the charges. The former Mayor of Sefton appeared for sentencing at Liverpool Magistrates' Court this afternoon, Wednesday, November 6 where a further charge was added.

Tweed, who wore a long blue coat and sported grey hair, appeared much frailer than in pictures during his time as mayor as he pleaded guilty to possessing extreme pornographic images. Olivia Randall, prosecuting, told the court the particulars of the case were Tweed's family home was raided after police intelligence suggested indecent material was being viewed at the address.

READ MORE: Men in balaclavas told mum 'Nyle's dead' day before teen was shot

READ MORE: Crime boss who plotted to shoot rivals on EncroChat jailed for 35 years

The defendant was at home with members of his family when the warrant was executed on May 14 this year. The court heard he and the others inside the house all denied having viewed any inappropriate material. Officers seized eight devices including a laptop which was forensically examined.

The court heard that after 88 indecent images of children were initially found the defendant cut his wrists and was taken to hospital. Ms Randall said he was later taken into custody and during interview admitted the laptop was his. The court heard Tweed claimed he had viewed the images by accident when he was browsing pornography and denied any interest in children.

A further forensic report was later carried out and concluded 160 images of children were found, including 80 pictures and videos that fell into category A - the most serious kind. Ms Randall told the court the crown concluded the children in the category A images were as young as five and aged between six and 10 in the category B and C. The court also heard he had 15 extreme pornography files that showed bestiality.

Ms Randall told the court it was the crown's case the defendant, with no previous convictions, should be committed to the higher courts for sentence due to the number of images. However, Mark Ellis, defending, told the court the case drew similarities to that of shamed broadcaster Huw Edwards, who was sentenced at magistrates' court for making indecent images.

Mr Ellis told the court that following Tweed's guilty pleas, which would reduce his sentence by one third, any sentence could be suspended bringing it under the threshold for it to be dealt with at the lower courts. Mr Ellis said his client was "an isolated and lonely individual" after his wife had left him following his arrest.

Mr Ellis told the court his client was being supported by his children to an extent. He said: "You are dealing with a sad and pathetic individual" and added: "This will live with him for the rest of his life." Mr Ellis added his submissions were Tweed would be a likely candidate to work with the Probation Service.

Sentencing, District Judge Paul Healey told the defendant: "You pleaded promptly so you get full credit. You are 62 years of age and you lose your good name." Judge Healey told Tweed, who clutched onto the glass panelling in the dock for support, that although there was initial reluctance to accept what he had done, the defendant was "now in a position to accept responsibility for this behaviour".

He accepted Tweed, formally of York Close in Netherton, felt vulnerable in his community but said he had to balance that with the harm of the children portrayed in the images. Judge Healey sentenced Tweed to nine months' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. The judge also ordered him to undertake 30 days' work with the Probation Service, the statutory victim surcharge and said he would be subject to notification requirements for the next 10 years.

The ECHO previously reported how Tweed was elected to Sefton Council in 1992 and held a number of high ranking positions on the local authority, including holding the cabinet portfolio for corporate services and performance between 2012 and 2015. He became Sefton's Mayor for the year 2008/09, attending numerous events as the borough's first citizen.

When the ECHO first broke the story of Tweed's charges, Sefton's Labour group said it took "immediate action" to remove Tweed as a member after it became aware of the offences. However, despite Sefton Council asking Tweed to resign following his guilty pleas, he remained an elected member of the council, sitting as an independent.

A spokesperson for Sefton Council told the ECHO: "As a council this is completely at odds with our values and high standards the public expect and deserve." The ECHO reported four days later Tweed had sent a letter of resignation to the council who said a by-election would be triggered for the vacant seat. The shamed pervert was also formerly a governor at St Benedict's Primary School in Bootle between 2005 and 2018.