A HIGH-flying detective who caught the people responsible for a brutal Blackburn town centre killing has been demoted, after admitting he falsified records in an unrelated incident.

Neil Smith, the former head of Blackburn CID, has been stripped of the rank of Detective Chief Inspector following an internal inquiry.

He will now take up duties as Detective Inspector with the police force's intelligence unit in Preston.

The 43-year-old has an impressive police career spanning 25 years, including nine commendations for good work and bravery. During his time in Blackburn, he was in charge of the inquiry into the Kevin Sudall murder in 1996.

Three local men, brothers John and Tony Aspinall and Paul Smyth, were all found guilty of the murder and given life sentences. Kevin Sudall was brutally beaten to death outside Club Euro nightclub.

Mr Smith also led the team of detectives who investigated the horrific Billinge woods rape in 1995.

The internal inquiry came after a complaint last year, while Mr Smith was in charge of CID in Lancaster. At a disciplinary hearing chaired by Chief Constable Pauline Clare, Mr Smith admitted he falsified records but said he did it to protect a member of the public and not for personal gain. It is believed the matter related to the completion of a form which resolved a complaint from a member of the public.

Today Mr Smith, who lives on the outskirts of the town, said: "It was done to protect somebody who was vulnerable. I admit it was an error of judgment which I obviously regret and I have been punished by the Chief Constable for that act.

"There was no gain for me or anyone else. But I am still committed to Lancashire Police and I want to get back to the job and put this behind me. I have learned for this experience and I have an important job to do at Preston, which I am looking forward to doing."

Chief Superintendent Bob Thompson, head of the professional standards department at Lancashire police, said: "An investigation was launched by officers from the professionals department and a file was forwarded to Crown Prosecution Service which, on considering the evidence, declared that no criminal charges would be brought."

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