Phone record checks on sex claim pair

Phone records and emails sent from Wolverhampton's Civic Centre by two councillors accused of a sex scandal will be trawled under a new investigation ordered by the chief executive.

Wolverhampton City Council boss Richard Carr has ordered staff to check all correspondence sent by former Tory councillors David and Carol Bourne to see if any sex sessions were organised from the authority's headquarters.

As part of the investigation, the Express & Star can also reveal that Mr Carr has written to the married couple, who are accused of charging up to £150 for group sex at their home in Merry Hill, to ask them to attend a meeting with him to discuss the allegations. The latest twist in the episode comes after the city's Labour group put pressure on the council to launch an official investigation.

If staff find that either of the pair have used council equipment to arrange their private life, they will be hauled before the standards committee and could be kicked out.

Both have resigned from the Conservatives and are now independents. They have so far refused to comment on the allegations, which emerged earlier this week.

Councillor Neville Patten, leader of the controlling Tory Lib-Dem Alliance, said today: "By not responding to the allegations both of them have brought the council into disrepute, so I support the investigation."

Councillor Roger Lawrence, leader of the city's Labour group, said: "I have been calling for an investigation since Sunday and am very pleased one is taking place.

"I look forward to seeing the findings and stress that it is important it comes to a conclusion quickly."

Councillor David Bourne also resigned as cabinet member for children and young people, losing £17,000 in allowances in the process. Both have failed to attend any council meetings this week.

As the Express & Star reported this week, the duo were alleged to be offering members of the public group sex sessions at their Telford Gardens home which could be filmed as a souvenir.

David Bourne represents Wednesfield North while his wife represents Wednesfield South and the fallout from the claims has seen calls for them to resign as councillors.

The authority say David Bourne has had some "initial contact" with Mr Carr since the chief executive wrote a few days ago.

Yesterday, Councillor Bourne sparked fury after it emerged he had been handed a seat on an influential crime-busting panel.

He has been given a role on the safer communities scrutiny panel, which aims to reduce anti-social behaviour in the city.

The move angered critics, who say the 66-year old should be kicked out of the authority altogether rather than given important roles.