Paedophile worker to face council action

Hamish Bruce worked for the council for 16 years

A senior council official from the West Midlands is to face disciplinary proceedings after he was found guilty of 11 sex offences including child rape.

Hamish Bruce, aged 47, of Summerfield Avenue, Wall Heath, Dudley, was jailed for 12 years after being found guilty of six charges of child rape.

The former Dudley Metropolitan Council clerk was also found guilty of three charges of indecent assault and two charges of gross indecency at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Bruce had denied the charges.

Sex offender

Dudley council's spokeswoman, Jan Jennings, said Bruce had worked as a senior clerk in the housing office's maintenance department since1986.

"Following the verdict at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Dudley Metropolitan Council is now invoking the council's own disciplinary proceedings in the case of Mr Bruce.

"He was removed from public-based duties as soon as the case came to light, pending the result of the court proceedings."

Bruce was ordered to register indefinitely as a sex offender on his release.

Mr Bernard Thorogood, defending, said Bruce was of previous good character and would find prison life tough.