Bradford’s former Coroner Dr Peter Straker has been cleared of misconduct but a judge has recommended his removal from office even though he had already quit.

The official had been suspended on full pay for more than a year from his £100,000-a-year job when he resigned in March before the results of a probe by the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office were released.

Now it has been confirmed the investigating judge has made a recommendation of removal on the grounds of incapacity, not misbehaviour.

Dr Straker had been the subject of a series of complaints.

A statement released yesterday by the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said: “Dr Peter Straker resigned his role as Senior Coroner for Bradford on March 6, 2014, before the conclusion of the investigation by the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office.

“Regulation 23 (2) of the Judicial Discipline Regulations 2013 allows for the Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice to continue to make a finding of misconduct once a judicial office holder has resigned where an Investigating Judge has made a recommendation of removal.

“In this case the Investigating Judge made a recommendation of removal on the grounds of incapacity.”