Ex-police chief Bob Quick considering legal action against Damian Green for 'deeply hurtful attempts to discredit' him

First Secretary of State 'called me a liar – that is completely untrue', said Bob Quick

Mr Green stood by his leader as the deal with the DUP was signed and sat next to her at numerous Prime Minister's Questions (PA)

Former Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick has said he is considering legal action against First Secretary of State Damian Green over what he described as “deeply hurtful” attempts to discredit him.

In a statement issued by his solicitors, Mr Quick called on Mr Green to publicly retract allegations that he had lied about the “vast amount” of pornography discovered on the MP’s personal computer.

Mr Quick, who oversaw a raid on Mr Green’s Westminster office in 2008, claimed everything he had said about the case was “accurate, in good faith, and in the firm belief that I have acted in the public interest”.

After allegations about Mr Green emerged in The Sunday Times in early November, the Ashford MP issued a firm rebuttal of the claims and branded Mr Quick “a tainted and untrustworthy source” who had been trying for some time to smear his political career.

Referring to the statement, the former police officer on Tuesday said: “Damian Green called me a liar ... That is completely untrue.”

He added: “I wish to make it clear for the avoidance of any doubt or further speculation that I am in no way motivated politically and bear no malice whatsoever to Damian Green.

“This is despite unfortunate and deeply hurtful attempts to discredit me.”

Mr Quick said officers involved in the raid on Mr Green’s office reported to him that internet history logs indicated the pornographic material on Mr Green’s computer had been viewed “prolifically and in working hours”.

He said he recommended at the time that the issue should be referred to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards but was not aware of any such reference being made.

When an inquiry was launched last month into allegations that Mr Green behaved inappropriately towards a young female activist, he contacted the Cabinet Office director general for propriety and ethics, Sue Gray, to inform her of what had been discovered.

He repeated his denial that he was the source for The Sunday Times report that suggested the material found on Mr Green’s computer was “extreme”.

He said a journalist approached him to say he had a copy of a draft witness statement prepared by him for the Leveson Inquiry, but insisted he did not provide the newspaper with the material.

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner said on Monday that Mr Quick and former Scotland Yard detective Neil Lewis could face prosecution for leaking the information.

Cressida Dick said it was “quite wrong” for the officers to speak out.

“Police officers have a duty of confidentiality, we come into contact with personal information very regularly, sometimes extremely sensitive. This is a daily occurrence for any officer,” she said.

“We all know that we have a duty to protect that information and keep it confidential.

“In my view that duty endures, it endures after you leave the service.”

Mr Green is facing calls to resign and Theresa May’s senior aides believe he should resign to spare her further embarrassment. Education Secretary Justine Greening, meanwhile, has raised doubts about his conduct.

But his allies have fought back over his treatment by the police and Brexit Secretary David Davis is understood to have threatened to resign if Mr Green is sacked.