AN ALTRINCHAM councillor has appeared in court charged with making and distributing indecent images of children.

Matthew Sephton, 41, who is a primary school teacher and also represented Altrincham for the Conservatives on Trafford Council but has now been suspended by the party, is charged with six criminal offences.

He was charged last month with four offences concerning indecent images of children, one count of possession of prohibited images and one count of possession of extreme pornography, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.

Coun Sephton, who was elected to Trafford Council in 2014, remains a town hall councillor but is suspended from the Conservative Party.

He was also suspended from his teaching position at Westmorland Primary School in Brinnington, Stockport, pending the outcome of a police investigation. Stockport Council said when he was charged that the suspension remained in force.

Coun Sephton, of Maximus Drive, Altrincham, appeared before magistrates at Manchester and Salford magistrates court for the first time today (Wednesday).

Wearing a grey suit, white shirt and purple tie, he spoke from the dock only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during the brief courtroom hearing.

His legal team indicated in court that not guilty pleas to the charges would be entered. Magistrates declined jurisdiction.

The case was adjourned and Coun Sephton was remanded on conditional bail. He is next due to appear at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court on August 9.

Coun Sephton was arrested by officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) in December last year.

In a statement released last month, the NCA said: “Matthew Sephton, 41, from Altrincham, was charged on Wednesday with making and distributing indecent images of children. He was arrested by officers from the National Crime Agency on December 1, 2016, and was bailed pending further enquiries.”

His profile on the council’s website was altered after his arrest and his political party is now listed as ‘none’.