March 17, 2015 11.46 am This story is over 107 months old

Lincoln judge resigns after claims he viewed porn at work

Porn at work: A Lincoln court judge has resigned after an investigation into allegations that he had viewed porn at work.

A Lincoln judge who allegedly viewed pornography from official work IT equipment has resigned.

Recorder Andrew Maw, who sat on Lincoln County Court, joined three judges who have been removed from office following an investigation into allegations that they viewed porn at work.

A disciplinary inquiry was revealed by the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO), which found an “inexcusable misuse” of the judges’ IT accounts.

Had he not resigned before the conclusion of the disciplinary process, Maw would also have been removed from his post.

The three judges who were sacked after the process were: district judge Timothy Bowles, immigration judge Warren Grant, and deputy district judge and recorder Peter Bullock.

The judges are not believed to have been linked in any way, and the JCIO have not said how the allegations against the men came to light, stating this was confidential.

In a statement, the JCIO said: “The lord chancellor [the justice secretary, Chris Grayling] and the lord chief justice [Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd] were satisfied that the material did not include images of children or any other illegal content, but concluded that this was an inexcusable misuse of their judicial IT accounts and wholly unacceptable conduct for a judicial office-holder.

“A fourth judge, recorder Andrew Maw, was also found to have viewed similar inappropriate material via his judicial IT account.

“The lord chancellor and the lord chief justice would likewise have removed Recorder Maw had he not resigned before the conclusion of the disciplinary process.”