Mark Gibney died in a motorcycle crash in 2003

An official report said North Wales Police's Richard Brunstrom left the family of Mark Gibney, 40, of Merseyside, "deeply distressed".

The images were shown at a closed road safety briefing for journalists.

The family again called for him to quit after the report by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

The IPCC had the power to recommend that Mr Brunstrom be disciplined or even sacked if the complaint had upheld.

Ian Roberts, chair of the North Wales Police Authority, said the IPCC report would now be referred to a special meeting of the authority. North Wales Police declined to comment.

The use of these images without any forewarning for whatever purposes and with whatever justification, has left him [Mark Gibney's father] and his family deeply distressed IPCC report

In a statement, the family said: "By his actions, Richard Brunstrom caused the Gibney family profound, unnecessary and lasting distress.

"Any chief constable occupies a position of great trust and yet it is clear Richard Brunstrom acted without the family's permission and with no thought to their welfare."

The IPCC report said Mr Brunstrom had not committed any criminal act by his actions, in terms of invasion of privacy or data protection, nor any specific breach of official police procedures.

However, the IPCC criticised Mr Brunstrom for failing to warn the family the images would be used.

It also said he lacked "sufficient planning, risk assessments and damage limitation actions, together with the lack of involvement of wider counsel," and needed "the highest quality advice".

The report quotes Mr Brunstrom saying in an e-mail that pictures that had initially been planned for the presentation were not "gruesome" enough, but the photos of Mr Gibney was "outstandingly good".

'Wounds and grief'

The report said Mr Gibney's father had "always made every effort to shelter his family from detailed knowledge of the nature of his son's death.

Mr Brunstrom used the images in an anti-speeding campaign

"The use of these images without any forewarning for whatever purposes and with whatever justification, has left him and his family deeply distressed.

"In a similar vein, this whole case will have re-opened the wounds and grief of the other family and officers involved in the original incident, many of whom continue to suffer to this day serious physical and mental trauma."

The report said that the incident "could, and possibly should, have been avoided".

What he hoped would be a public celebration of the force's success over recent years turned out to be a national public furore IPCC report

It said: "Richard Brunstrom is a high-profile campaigner in the country against excessive speed by those who use our roads.

"What he hoped would be a public celebration of the force's success over recent years turned out to be a national public furore over the identification and re-publication of the details of one previous case.

"The report speaks for itself on the lack of sufficient planning, risk assessments and damage limitation actions, together with the lack of involvement of wider counsel, all of which might have avoided this incident."

The IPCC said there was a need to "reflect carefully" on the relationship between the media and North Wales Police.

"Richard Brunstrom has strong views on policing issues, is forthright in expressing them and consequently attracts intense media interest," the report said.

'Robust advice'

"He therefore needs the highest quality advice and procedures when embarking on such matters."

The IPCC said Mr Brunstrom was "best served by robust advice from his media and legal advisers in the planning of public statements and events".

It also said the police authority had a large part to play in "bridge-building and improved working", and was "required to hold the force to account".

Mr Gibney died in 2003 when his bike crashed on a bend between Cerrigydrudion and Ruthin in Denbighshire.

An image of his severed head lying on a grass verge was shown to journalists and council officials during a private road safety presentation in April 2007.

Afterwards, Mr Brunstrom said the pictures had been shown in confidence and accused some sections of the media of "distorting" the meeting.

He also defended his actions, saying he had shown the images to "give the context" of his anti-speeding campaign.