THE FORMER head of Wiltshire Police has been accused of mishandling a sexual harassment case.

Ex-Chief Constable Brian Moore, who last month was head-hunted to lead the new UK Border Force, was accused in a national newspaper of failing to take the claims of the victims of harassment by Deputy Chief Constable David Ainsworth seriously.

Several of those vicitms have won out-of-court settlements since Mr Ainsworth was found hanging in his Devizes cottage in March 2011.

It was reported some of those victims are to write to the Home Secretary Teresa May challenging his appointment to the newly created immigration enforcement body.

In a statement Mr Moore said: "All matters were fully reported by me on November, 30, 2009 to the Wiltshire Police Authority, the body responsible in law for the conduct of senior officers, and which then directed the action that was subsequently taken.

"However, it is not appropriate to comment further as the Coroner's Inquest is yet to be heard."