THE Labour Party for Wyre Forest has said members are "devastated" and "outraged" to learn of the conviction of former group leader James Shaw for making indecent photographs of a child.

The Shuttle recently reported how Shaw, who served as leader of Wyre Forest District Council for eight years in the 1990s, pleaded guilty to the crime at Worcester Crown Court on September 11 this year.

Now aged 68, Shaw, who lives in Stourport, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

The offence was committed in Stourport between January and July 2018 - during which time he was serving as Labour ward member for Areley Kings and Riverside on the district council.

Chair of Wyre Forest Labour, Rod Stanczyszyn, said: "We abhor and are horrified by child abuse in all its forms and our overwhelming concern is for children damaged in the appalling practice of the making of indecent images.

"We utterly condemn Jamie Shaw for the dreadful crime of which he has been convicted.

"We are shocked and outraged by what he has done.”

District Councillor Sarah Rook, the current Labour Group leader, added: "Jamie Shaw withdrew from all Labour activity nearly two years ago. Until now, we understood that he had done so because of ill health.

"We were deeply shocked when we learnt the truth from local press reports.

"Shaw will never be re-admitted to the Wyre Forest Constituency Party.”

Shaw served the Stourport community since the 1980s, both as a representative for Stourport Town Council and a local school governor. He also worked for the education service at Worcestershire County Council.

He resigned from Wyre Forest District Council in November 2018 after 32 years, citing ill-health.