Former West Midlands fire chief Frank Sheehan has received a caution for making indecent child sex images.

The Crown Prosecution Service said it had been decided it was “not in the public interest” to charge him, after a “thorough” police investigation and “careful” review by lawyers.

Instead police had been advised that the 55-year-old should be issued with formal caution. He will also be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for two years.

The married father-of-one’s was arrested last November on suspicion of making indecent images of children.

Sheehan was picked up by officers at his home in Sutton Coldfield where he lives with his wife Linda and daughter on November 18 last year.

A day later he suddenly announced his immediate retirement from his £140,000-a-year post as Chief Fire Officer of West Midlands Fire Service, citing “personal reasons”.

West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service said it has advised West Midlands Police to issue a formal caution to Sheehan for an offence of making indecent images.

Hayley Firman, Assistant District Crown Prosecutor for Birmingham CPS said: “Following a thorough investigation by West Midlands Police and a careful review by the CPS, a decision has made that it is not in the public interest to charge Mr Sheehan.

“When considering whether a case should be prosecuted the CPS applies the Code for Crown Prosecutors. This Code is applied however serious the charge, whoever the potential defendant and whatever their occupation.

“In the circumstances of this case a caution was appropriate and he will be placed on the sex offenders register for two years.”

After his arrest, it was claimed that Mr Sheehan had reported a computer stolen days before his arrest.

A neighbour of Mr Sheehan also said a police car had visited the house “a few days before” about an alleged break-in on his car.

Mr Sheehan, who has been the fire service boss since 2003, rose through the ranks from firefighter to Chief Fire Officer after joining the service in 1975.

He was awarded a CBE earlier this year and is also a holder of the Queen’s Fire Service Medal for services to community fire safety.

The brigade boss, one of the most senior in the UK, was due to retire in September.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Vij Randeniya has been acting in the role of Chief Fire Officer.