A DISGRACED ex-police officer with an "addiction" to sexual images of young girls has been jailed following his conviction for downloading and possessing child pornography.

Former Merseyside Police constable Mark Sweeney (39), who had been based in St Helens, was found to have accessed more than 380 indecent images of children on three different computers.

They featured naked pictures of girls aged 11 to 12 that covered the “full spectrum of seriousness”.

The majority were in the least serious range of offences, classed as category one by prosecutors.

However, Manchester Crown Court was told there were three in the fifth and most severe category, including "sadistic" pictures of children suffering sexual abuse by adults, which "would have subjected them to psychological damage for the rest of their lives”.

Judge Michael Henshall condemned Sweeney, who was even found to have indecent images on a mobile phone while on bail for the catalogue of child porn offences.

Judge Henshall said: "The fact you are a police officer is one of the tragedies of this case.

"You knew more than the average man who comes before these courts that each child was a victim that had been degraded and abused."

He added: "The focus of this case demonstrates beyond doubt that you have a strong sexual attraction for girls aged between 11 and 12."

Sweeney, who served in the army before joining the police, was sacked by Merseyside Police at a misconduct hearing in November that followed his conviction for 11 counts of making indecent images of children and a further six of possessing them.

He had no previous convictions but was given a written warning by superintendent after he was found to be making phone calls to “chat lines” from Moss Bank police station in 2006.

Outlining the child porn case against Sweeney, Sarah Johnston, prosecuting, said that last year images had been discovered when officers seized a laptop belonging to his ex-partner at a house, located between Crawford and Rainford, where the couple had lived.

Further pictures were found after analysis of two computers taken from Sweeney's home address in Old Swan.

While he was on bail for those offences, indecent images were discovered on his Nokia mobile phone.

The court was told that Sweeney, whose address was given as Gidlow Road South, Liverpool, will not accept his guilt.

However, Richard Littler, defending, had argued his client needed supervision and help.

He said: "It is very common for a defendant to carry on denying (such offences). Helped by the probation service that defendant may open up and cooperate with them.

“This is an addiction that the defendant has. When people have these addictions they usually need assistance.

"He has brought shame on himself and on his family. He is sincerely shameful for his conduct.”

The court was told Sweeney denied the charges at trial, instead claiming he had only ever searched on the internet for adult porn and that other men had access to his ex-partner’s computer.

He was sentenced to 10 months in prison and was told he will serve half of that term.

He was also made subject to a ten year Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which will limit his access to children.

He must make any digital computer equipment available for inspection by police.