Sex offender loses after-school radio gig

A radio DJ has been sacked from hosting a show for schoolkids - after The People revealed he was a child porn pervert. Chris Branscomb, 27, landed a job presenting an afternoon "School Run" show that was popular with pupils on their way home. But now he has been booted off the air by horrified bosses at Hertbeat FM following our revelations about his sordid past that he kept secret from them. Branscomb was convicted of possessing indecent photos of children after a disgusting image of a youngster was found on his work computer. Cops raided his home and discovered more sickening pictures of boys engaged in sex acts with men. He was put on the sex offenders` register and given a rehabilitation order. But despite being dismissed last year by Falcon Radio in Stroud, Glos, he was still hired by Hertbeat. Yesterday, Hertbeat director Lester Cowling said: "We were not aware of Chris Branscomb`s past when we employed him. "He undoubtedly misled us by not revealing this at his interview. Clearly he is not an appropriate person to talk to our listeners." Mr Cowling added: "He will be offered some freelance work which does not involve contact with the public while he finds alternative employment." The station - covering Hatfield, Hertford, Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City - has tightened vetting procedures over new staff. And it is already advertising for a replacement for the? 20,000-a-year DJ. Branscomb, who claimed he stumbled across the porn images by accident, said: "I`d never do anything that would harm a child."