Hi °C | Lo °C Retired deputy police chief Lenny Harper was never far from controversy during his tenure in charge of the Jersey child abuse inquiry.
He was compared with a comedian within weeks of the investigation becoming public.
Mr Harper was attacked by the island’s health minister Ben Shenton, who, in an email to his colleagues, wrote: “My wife keeps referring to Lenny Harper as Lenny Henry — I don’t think she’s far wrong.”
Mr Harper, who was also ridiculed after the apparent discovery of a child’s skull turned out to be more likely a coconut, was never reluctant to question the role of other parties, however.
As the investigation gathered pace, he queried why so many complaints had not been dealt with in the past.
He said he had found no evidence of a cover-up, but added: “We are looking at allegations that a number of agencies didn’t deal with things as perhaps they should.”
He also ruffled feathers among the island’s senior ranks after his retirement in the summer.
Amid criticism of his handling of the investigation, Mr Harper, who moved to Ayrshire, Scotland, attacked the island’s legal system, claiming they delayed prosecutions and were held in “contempt” by victims.
He told BBC News “the goalposts were being moved” and that the decision making process for the Jersey legal system appeared to be “whenever, wherever”.
Originally from Northern Ireland, Mr Harper served in the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the Metropolitan Police and Strathclyde Police.
After six years in Jersey, he retired in August, paving the way for deputy chief officer David Warcup and detective superintendent Michael Gradwell to take charge.
Mr Gradwell served with Lancashire Police and led a number of other major crime investigations in the UK, including the murder of Sophie Lancaster, who was stamped to death in a park in 2007 owing to her alleged “Goth” appearance.
He also led the investigation into the deaths of 23 cocklepickers in Morecambe Bay in 2004.
