A TOP policeman convicted of making malicious phone calls is to keep his job until an appeal has been heard.

Police bosses have confirmed Inspector Stephen Lawman, a former East Lancashire officer, will stay at work until next February.

Disciplinary proceedings started after the 40-year-old was found guilty of making a string of malicious phone calls have been put on hold until the appeal.

A final decision on whether to go ahead with the disciplinary procedure will be made once the appeal has been decided at Preston Crown Court.

Inspector Lawman, from Penwortham, Preston, works in the force's communications room at its headquarters in Hutton. He was fined £1,000 by magistrates after being found guilty of making a series of calls to 35-year-old Lancashire County Council worker Lorraine Sharrock.

An appeal date for February 22 following a preliminary hearing in November and the hearing is expected to last a week.

Inspector Lawman is planning to call 14 witnesses, including an expert in telecommunications technology.

Inspector Lawman previously served at Accrington and Blackburn, and the cadet training centre at Warrington.

Police chiefs originally refused to say how long it would take to sort out the future of an inspector convicted of making malicious and indecent phone calls.

They also confirmed he had returned to his normal duties which include authorising investigations into alleged phone pest cases.

Criticism has been growing over the handling of the case and there have been calls for the father of three to be sacked.

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