Former Mersey cop Michael Cloherty from Formby in court on misconduct charges

Court case centres around incident in which a driver's car door hit Cloherty's vehicle in gusting of wind

A former high-ranking Merseyside Police officer will deny criminal allegations of misconduct while a top cop within the force, his lawyer said today.

Ex-Chief Superintendent Michael Cloherty is being prosecuted for perjury, misconduct in office and perverting the course of justice - sparked by a member of the public’s car door being blown onto his Mondeo by a gust of wind.

The 50-year-old, who retired as a policeman in November 2013, is set to go before a jury over a long-running fall-out with electrician Jack Beecham, from Prenton, Wirral.

Former Mersey cop Michael Cloherty

At Preston Magistrates Court, Cloherty, from Formby, appeared in the dock, dressed in a navy blue suit, shirt and tie.

He was told: “Between May 26 2010 and July 14 2012 within the county of Merseyside, as a public officer, namely Police Superintendent, you wilfully and without reasonable excuse or justification, misconducted yourself in a way which amounted to an abuse of the public’s trust by presenting false and misleading evidence in a pocket notebook that was subsequently use for court proceedings.

“Between May 26 2010 and July 14 2012, with intent to pervert the course of justice, did an act, namely presented false and misleading evidence, in a pocket notebook that was subsequently used in court proceedings.

“Between May 26 2010 and July 14 2012, having been lawfully sworn as a witness in judicial proceedings, wilfully made a statement material in that proceedings, which you knew to be false or did not believe to be true.”

Former high-ranking Merseyside chief superintendent Michael Cloherty, 50, leaving Preston Magistrates court in Lancashire. The ex police officer is accused of perjury, misconduct and attempting to pervert the course of justice, after a car incident with Jack Beecham of Prenton, from Wirral.

Cloherty, a former Area Commander for Knowsley, brought a hardback pad into the dock with him.

He spoke only to confirm his name, age and date of birth.

Imran Khan, his lawyer, told magistrates, his client was set to deny the charges.

He said: “The defendant did not wilfully mislead the court. It follows to the other two offences as well.

“In terms of police notebooks, the application will be denied.”

Cloherty, who had two supporters in court, was granted unconditional bail.

His case was adjourned to Preston Crown Court in February.

The case relates to a bust-up in May 2010 when Jack Beecham’s parked car door accidentally struck the ex-cop’s vehicle bumper in Prenton, Wirral, close to traffic lights, after a gust of wind.

A confrontation between the 64-year-old and the Chief Superintendent resulted in Mr Beecham’s arrest for assaulting a police officer, which led to his conviction and a £200 fine.

But the electrician successfully appealed and was acquitted at Liverpool Crown Court in August 2012, which prompted a complaint to Merseyside Police about Mr Cloherty’s actions.

The force’s Professional Standards Department launched a probe which has now led to criminal charges against Cloherty.

Cloherty was a well known and successful figure in Merseyside Police, most recently Area Commander for Knowsley. He was a Chief Inspector and prominent senior officer in theCroxteth Park and Norris Green communities at that time when schoolboy Rhys Jones was murdered.

Story and Photo source: Liverpool Echo by Luke Traynor