A judge has ordered an inquiry after an Ashford man who killed his teenage daughter with ecstasy was caught with sex “selfies” of her on his mobile phone.

But, a court heard today, the judge who was asked to dismiss two charges of him possessing the illegal images wasn't told they were of Jason Wilkes’ 17-year-old daughter Chloe.

Judge Adele Williams put a temporary ban on KentOnline publishing the story and ordered an inquiry by the Crown Prosecution Service.

She said at the hearing: “I am exceedingly alarmed if that fact was not brought to His Honour Judge Statman's attention prior to sentencing (for manslaughter) , because it would have had an enormous effect on sentencing in my judgement.”

But now James Mulholland QC told Judge Williams that Judge Statman was aware of the nature of the allegations and that the decision to halt proceedings was taken for a number of reasons – including the feelings of Chloe’s family.

He said the two images were “low level” and had been taken by the teenager but had allegedly been replicated on a phone owned by Wilkes.

The 45-year-old killer, who had denied the indecent image charges, was jailed at Maidstone Crown Court for five years and four months earlier this month after he admitted manslaughter.

But as the charges of making indecent images were brought first, the case was sent to Canterbury Crown Court and heard by a different judge.

Barrister Mary Jacobson, for the CPS, told Judge Williams that the trial on the two counts of making indecent images of Chloe Wilkes was being “discontinued”.

“Wilkes is now a serving prisoner. This hearing is to discontinue the two counts of making indecent images.”

The judge asked: “I expect the Crown has considered this very carefully but what is the reason?”

The prosecutor replied: “Public interest. I believe that last week he received a substantial sentence of five years, four months for manslaughter.”

The case against Wilkes, who was not present in court to hear the decision, was formerly discontinued.

But it was only later that Judge Williams was told that the images were of the teenager.

She told the prosecutor: “It was not drawn to my attention that the indecent images of the case which has now been discontinued were indecent images of his daughter.

“I really feel that I should have been told that and I want to know whether that fact was drawn to Judge Statman’s attention before he sentenced Wilkes last week.

Wilkes eventually pleaded guilty to giving the 17-year-old an ecstasy tablet which had caused a reaction.

He then drove her from their home in Tunbridge Way, Singleton, Ashford, to a woodland area on the edge of the town, and then to an industrial estate where he worked, in an attempt to cool her down rather than taking her to the nearest hospital which was under three miles away.

If he had sought medical help for her as soon as he realised she was unwell, hospital staff might have been able to stop her overheating, which caused her heart to stop.

Prosecutor James Mulholland QC told the court that Chloe died from the toxic effects of taking a large quantity of the drug.

Sentencing Wilkes, Judge Philip Statman said: "You will lead the rest of your life knowing that your conduct led to the death of your daughter who in my judgment you loved.

"That's an enormous burden for you to have to carry with you, but it is not just your burden.

"She is lost to her mother, brother and her extended family, a life tragically cut short."

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