A KILLER motorist with a string of convictions for violence has been working as a council binman without officials knowing about his past.

Blackburn with Darwen Council only discovered what was going on when the 28-year-old failed to turn up for work -- because he had been jailed for another serious attack.

He has appeared in court accused of another assault since being giving the sack.

The authority today faced calls for better checks on all staff who have face-to-face contact with the public - particularly since the introduction of a controversial new waste collection system.

It said its Criminal Records Bureau checks on staff's previous convictions did not extend to refuse collectors, as they were not covered by laws designed to protect children and vulnerable people.

But the Home Office said there was no reason why binmen could not be included - and council bosses are now considering the move.

The man, who can not be named for legal reasons, but who lives in Darwen, was dismissed for failing to include details of his conviction when he applied for the post.

He was sacked in writing last month after council bosses discovered he was in Preston Prison serving a seven month sentence for assault.

The man was jailed for three years in 1997 after he admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

He has also been arrested 10 times for violent offences since 2000.

Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, any prison sentence must be disclosed if asked for by an employer, up to 10 years after the date of sentence.

Lib Dem leader on the council, Coun Paul Browne, said: "Since the council decided that some people should only have their bins emptied once a fortnight, the job has become very hard and there are confrontations every day.

"We need to know that binmen won't respond to provocation, and the ones I know don't.

"This situation is unacceptable and I want the council to do more CRB checks in future. I know they cost money but safety of the public is paramount."

Today, council leader Coun Kate Hollern said: "We're in a position where councillors have checks carried out by the Criminal Records Bureau to make sure they are suitable but we only check applicants for certain jobs, such as those dealing with children.

"The situation with this man wasn't acceptable because he hadn't disclosed all the information that he should have done. That was grounds for dismissal, as I understand it.

"Working as a binman can be a contentious job, and we need to know we have the right people on the job. I am asking for officers to look at doing CRB checks on people who have day-to-day contact with the public.

"Checking everyone wouldn't be an option."

A spokesman for the council said they could not comment on individual circumstances but added: "CRB checks are not carried out on refuse collectors."

A spokesman for the Home Office, which runs the CRB said: "The council doesn't have to carry out CRB checks for binmen, but there is no reason why they can't."

A spokesman for the Local Government Association said: "Each council sets its own standards."