UNDER-fire police and crime commissioner Steve Turner, who is facing a historic sexual assault allegation, has refused to stand down saying it would result in “political carnage” as he hit back at critics in a bombshell statement.

Cleveland Police’s PCC, who has been facing mounting pressure to resign since complaints were lodged last week with the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) about the alleged sexual assault, fired back tonight in a 600-word statement aimed squarely at his political enemies.

The Tory PCC, who was elected in May, was already subject to a separate referral being assessed by the IOPC after Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald used Parliamentary privilege to accuse him of theft from a Safeway store in Norton, Teesside where he worked in the 1990s.

Critics, including The Northern Echo, have called for Mr Turner to stand aside while the investigation is carried out but the PCC has tonight shot back with an explosive retort vowing to fight the allegations and remain in post for as long as it takes.

In a lengthy and explosive statement issued by his lawyers, Mr Turner said: “I cannot allow one anonymous allegation to bring into jeopardy the democratic process and the wishes of the public who took part in my election.

 “To do so would create an incredibly dangerous precedence potentially creating Political carnage across the entire country. I am committed to democracy and the Justice system.”

Mr Turner took aim at his critics saying:

• He has been given “no further information regarding the allegation, the person, the place or the circumstance”.

• He believes that “one or more members of the Police and Crime panel (PCC Panel) have deliberately chosen to leak this highly confidential and damaging allegation to the to the media purely for Political gain”.

• There has been an “orchestrated campaign against me in the media, led by local Labour Party members and their supporters including two of Teesside’s former Labour MP’s sharing 58 tweets in 48 hours about these allegation”.

• His family’s mental wellbeing “should not have to be tested in this way”.

• It is his “intent to continue in my role, and deliver what I was elected to do whilst the investigation takes place.”

• This is currently “an allegation, and I cannot allow one anonymous allegation to bring into jeopardy the democratic process and to do so would create an “incredibly dangerous precedence potentially creating Political carnage across the entire country”.

The Cleveland PCC was already subject to a referral being assessed by the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) after Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald used Parliamentary privilege to accuse him of theft from a Safeway store in Norton, Teesside where he worked in the 1990s.

In an open letter Mr Turner subsequently admitted he had accepted a police caution over an “event” while employed by the former supermarket chain.

On Thursday it emerged that a second referral to the IOPC from the Cleveland police and crime panel concerned an alleged sex assault dating back to the 1980s.

The IOPC said it had now begun a “managed investigation” into these claims which would be carried by a police force from another area, while under the police watchdog’s control.

Last night, Nick Thomas-Symonds, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, said he should be suspended immediately and the Conservatives had ‘broken the public’s trust’.

He said: “Steve Turner should be suspended by the Conservatives immediately. He has admitted wrong doing in the past, something that the electorate in Cleveland was not aware of when he stood for office, and he is facing two current investigations. Once again the Conservatives have broken the public’s trust and shown they can’t be trusted to follow the rules.

“Rather than remaining silent, his friends who are ministers in the government and the Prime Minister should suspend him. It is astonishing he hasn’t already been suspended by the Conservative party.

“Days after the Prime Minister’s corrupt attempt to railroad his own MPs and Parliament into changing the rules for his scandal-hit friend Owen Paterson, this raises serious questions about whether ministers and the Conservative party are again rallying round to protect one of their own.”