RAY Mallon has dramatically sacrificed a four-year crusade to clear his name for the chance to become Middlesbrough's first directly-elected mayor.

Last night, the suspended boss of Middlesbrough CID was waiting to discover whether his sensational gamble will pay off.

His decision to admit to 14 internal disciplinary charges brought by Cleveland Police - allegations he had always strenuously denied - dismayed many of his staunch supporters.

He is likely to be formally dismissed after attending a disciplinary hearing, headed by Hertfordshire Chief Constable Paul, at 10am today. But a final announcement may be delayed until tomorrow.

The Detective Superintendent, who grabbed national headlines by introducing zero tolerance policing to Teesside, now faces renewed opposition to his bid to become mayor.

The opening salvo was fired last night by Middlesbrough MP Stuart Bell, who accused the man nicknamed Robocop of "splitting our local community".

Urging him to drop out of the mayoral race, he said: "This man is pleading guilty to 14 offences as a police officer, for which he may well be dismissed from the police force. This is not small beer."

Mr Mallon was suspended from Cleveland Police and accused of alleged "activity that could be construed as criminal," in December 1997, as part of the £7m Operation Lancet anti-corruption investigation.

He was formally cleared of any criminal wrongdoing in June 2000, but continued to fight the internal disciplinary charges - which include nine counts of neglect of duty, three of falsehood or prevarication, one of discreditable conduct and one of misconduct towards a force member.

It is understood his decision to change his plea came after it was suggested the hearing may be delayed until November.

Unable to stand in the election as a serving police officer, Mr Mallon had already tried to resign - a request rejected by Chief Constable Barry Shaw while the disciplinary charges remain.

He must leave Cleveland Police by the beginning of next month to be able to stand for May's elections.

His decision to back down is also understood to have been influenced by the fact his legal expenses insurance is exhausted.

Sources close to Mr Mallon say he is anxious not to let down the many people he believes are keen to back him in the mayoral race.

Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate, one of Mr Mallon's staunchest allies, said he had been made a "prisoner of the police complaints system".

"I hope we get a complaints system that provides some justice, some fair play," said the former president of the Police Superintendents Association, who yesterday cited Mr Mallon's case in a House of Lords debate as a pressing reason for overhauling the police complaints procedure and setting time limits on inquiries.

Ashok Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said: "It was simply a case of the man against a machine - and a very well resourced machine in the shape of the Cleveland Police hierarchy. His legal expenses simply could not stand up to the resources of a public funded body."

Housewife June Goodchild, who campaigned for Mr Mallon's reinstatement, said: "It's a great shame that he has had to spend the last four-and-a-half years fighting attacks on his name, instead of fighting crime in Middlesbrough."

Mr Mallon was unavailable for comment last night.

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