SHAMED Chief Constable Graham Maxwell is facing fresh anger over the case, amid accusations that he had caused needless expense to the public.

The North Yorkshire Police Authority issued a statement saying: “It is perhaps regrettable that Mr Maxwell did not admit his guilt late last year. He could have avoided organisational and personal turmoil and unnecessary cost to the council tax payer.

“Instead, Mr Maxwell has sought, over the last six months, to avoid being held to account for his actions by pursuing spurious legal remedies and unsustainable arguments in his defence.” The statement said Mr Maxwell’s admission vindicated the authority’s decision to refer the matter to the IPCC.

It added: “The fact that Mr Maxwell has received a final written warning should not be taken to diminish the seriousness of his actions; rather it is a significant sanction demonstrating the gravity attached by the panel to this gross misconduct.”

The authority said Mr Maxwell’s untarnished 28-year record probably had an impact on the panel’s decision and said so too would his “last-minute decision to admit his guilt after a 15-month process”

The statement said it was important that where there was evidence that behaviour fell below the standard expected, it was challenged and the individuals held to account, and added: “The authority now calls upon Mr Maxwell to rebuild both the public’s confidence in the police service and his personal reputation amongst the community he serves and the organisation he leads.”

Mark Botham, chairman of North Yorkshire Police Federation, which represents officers, said they had enjoyed a healthy working relationship with Mr Maxwell since his appointment, and looked forward to that continuing.

Tim Madgwick, assistant chief constable at North Yorkshire Police, said: “Mr Maxwell and the other members of the Strategic Leadership Team look forward to continuing to lead the force and to providing the best possible policing service to the communities of North Yorkshire and the City of York.”