Sex joke council officers keep jobs

South Ribble Council suspended the pair and launched disciplinary proceedings after they were recorded accusing Jayne Wheeler of sleeping with her landlord for free rent and a free extension to accommodate her severely-disabled daughter.

The exchange, between a man and a woman, was left on a voicemail after the man left a legitimate message regarding house alteration work, but failed to properly hang up the phone receiver.

The officers can be heard saying “He thinks she’s having it off with her landlord” and describing the woman as “young, tall, slim, blonde . . . probably getting free rent”.

Miss Wheeler said she was “totally disgusted and disappointed” the pair were still in employment.

The 33-year-old of Windsor Road, Walton-le-Dale, said: “The fact they (the council) are happy to continue to send them to the homes of disabled adults and children in the district shows a complete failing in their duty to provide a professional service. I would certainly never have these two people enter my home if they had made the remarks about others.”

A spokesman for South Ribble Council said: “Disciplinary proceedings have been completed, pending right of appeal, following a complaint about a voicemail message which was inadvertently left on a resident’s telephone.

“The resident has been informed of the outcome, and we now consider the matter closed. I would like to reiterate our thanks to the resident for raising this with us and helping us to get to the bottom of it.”

Miss Wheeler said she now intends to take her grievance to a council ombudsman. The landlord was unavailable for comment.