Judge Clare Montgomery described Lenny Harper’s contact with the press as ‘wilful misconduct’

LENNY Harper’s conduct as head of the historical abuse inquiry was branded ‘disgraceful’ by appeal judges yesterday.

In dismissing the applications by two child abusers to have their convictions and sentences reviewed, the court also accused the Island’s former deputy police chief of ‘wilful misconduct’.

In delivering the court’s judgment, Clare Montgomery QC criticised Mr Harper for his conduct regarding day books relating to the investigation of Claude James Donnelly and Gordon Claude Wateridge.

Mr Harper had been accused of stealing the books from Jersey by Donelly’s and Wateridge’s defence, Advocate Mike Preston, and not returning them when requested to do so.

Donnelly (69) is serving 15 years in jail after being convicted in June of five counts of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and one count of procuring an act of gross indecency. Wateridge (78) was convicted in August of 11 counts of indecent assault and one count of common assault.

Miss Montgomery, who was sitting with fellow appeal judges Dame Heather Steel, president of the court, and Michael Jones QC, said: ‘The conduct of Mr Harper regarding the day books is regarded as disgraceful. We are also prepared to assume that Mr Harper’s contacts with the press were the product of wilful misconduct on his part. But we are satisfied that fair trials took place and that the publicity did not have an effect on the process.’