UKIP candidate apologises for porn picture posted on Twitter as a 'joke'

Dean Perks, who wants to be an MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis, said he put the image on his page as a 'joke'.

It shows a completely naked woman, in high heels, leading a fully naked man through the streets by his private parts. Mr Perks, who has previously said that Sharia law and chopping people's hands off for theft could work as a means of preventing crime, said he did not mean to cause any offence.

UKIP has distanced itself from the picture, but said it was up to Mr Perks what he put on his own Twitter page.

The page can be seen by anyone with access to the internet. The picture was posted as part of a joke between Mr Perks and a friend, whom Mr Perks had suggested was being controlled by his fiancée.

During the exchange Mr Perks made a joke about the naked couple saying it was a good job the woman had 'little hands'. The picture has been condemned by the Labour party while UKIP has been in touch with Mr Perks to ask what was going on.

Mr Perks, who hopes to unseat Tory MP James Morris in 2015 and wants to get onto Dudley Council in the Upper Gornal and Woodsetton ward, said: "I've not been reprimanded. It was done as a joke. I was taking the Mickey out of a friend for being under the thumb. It's my own private account although I do say that I'm the candidate on my profile.

"Perhaps I should have sent it as a direct message instead, meaning that no-one else could see it. If I've caused offence to anyone I apologise. But it' had been up there almost a month before anyone said anything."

Gawain Towler, spokesman for UKIP, said: "This is just two blokes taking the Mickey out of each other. We're not getting upset about this."

But Warley Labour MP John Spellar said UKIP leader Nigel Farage should take action against Mr Perks.