CLEVELAND Chief Constable Barry Shaw has been ordered to hand over letters written by one of the North-East's most notorious child killers.

Shaun Armstrong, who murdered Hartlepool toddler Rosie Palmer, is using public funds to sue author Bernard O'Mahoney.

Mr O'Mahoney, 41, of Peterborough, extracted a confession from the killer of the three-year-old by writing to him and striking up a relationship by masquerading as a woman, Laurna Jane Stephens.

Armstrong then caused a storm of protest by launching a legal action against Mr O'Mahoney, claiming he had breached his confidentiality and stating he wanted profits from any book that may be written.

But Mr O'Mahoney said Cleveland Police were jeopardising his defence by refusing to hand over copies of the letters he gave them to help convict Armstrong.

He has now obtained an order from the High Court, which means the copies will have to be handed to him.

The case will be heard at the Royal Courts of Justice, in London, and is due to take place between May and July.

Mr O'Mahoney said yesterday: "I'm relieved to be getting the letters, because without them I wouldn't have been able to mount a proper defence.

"I still feel really aggrieved over the case. I have no confidence in the legal system in this country, otherwise Armstrong would not be able to spend public money to pursue this."

Rosie Palmer was murdered in 1994 after being abducted when she went to buy an ice lolly, yards from her home in Henrietta Street, Hartlepool.

Armstrong was jailed for life at Leeds Crown Court in 1995 after he confessed to killing her.

Cleveland Police said they would return the letters if Mr O'Mahoney received a disclosure order from a judge, and suggested he contact the national Sunday newspaper which had the originals.