SUSPENDED police chief Ray Mallon has been told he must fund his own defence against disciplinary charges arising from Operation Lancet.

The former head of Middlesbrough CID faces 14 disciplinary charges following the £7m anti-corruption inquiry into Cleveland Police, which finished earlier this year without a single criminal charge being brought.

His legal expenses insurance exhausted, Mr Mallon would need to find an estimated £120,000 to be properly legally represented at the internal hearings.

Yesterday, Cleveland Police Authority, which had pledged to back Detective Superintendent Mallon in his legal fight, said it was unable to help financially.

Mr Mallon announced in August his financial predicament was a "fundamental reason'' why he would not be attending an expected eight- week long disciplinary hearing, beginning next month.

He also announced plans to resign from Cleveland Police and instead stand as Middlesbrough's first elected mayor if the borough votes for the option.

However, the man who successfully pioneered zero tolerance policing techniques in this country, was urged to stay the course.

Councillor Ken Walker, chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, said financial pressures should not be a valid reason for not facing disciplinary hearings, and instructed officials to see if Mr Mallon could be helped with his legal costs. But the authority disclosed yesterday it did not have the powers to help.

Coun Walker said: "The clear legal advice we have received is we would be acting outside our legal powers if we sought to meet disciplinary costs in such a situation.''

Chief Superintendent Terry Romeanes said: "The Superintendents' Association were well aware of the legal constraints placed upon the police authority in terms of providing financial assistance.

"It is unfortunate that Ray Mallon will have no legal representation at any future disciplinary hearing which disadvantages him somewhat."

Mallon supporter Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate Moor said last night: "Justice has to be equal and even handed. Clearly, it cannot be if one side has a top barrister and the other side has no legal representation because he cannot afford it."

Mr Mallon could not be contacted last night