A PAEDOPHILE police officer has walked free from court despite downloading 1,600 indecent images of children.

While his colleagues were carrying out extra patrols to keep the county safe PC Clive Hansen was in court apologising after being caught with some of the most vile and despicable images of child sexual abuse imaginable.

Judge David Goodin referred to the Essex Police officer's "exemplary" conduct previously and urged him to stop looking at this type of "stuff" as he sentenced him to four months in jail, and then suspended the sentence for a year.

Hansen, 53, of Benfleet, had previously admitted three counts of making indecent pictures and one offence of possessing a prohibited image of a child before he was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court today.

On November 2 the force received a tip off one of their officers was downloading child abuse images.

Officers went to his home and, when he returned from shift, arrested him and seized a laptop from the married father.

Michael Crimp, prosecuting, said: "He gave no comment during his first interview.

"Later he did describe how he had had a problem for a long time."

He was caught with 17 images at category A, the most extreme abuse, 26 at level B and 1,576 at level C as well as another prohibited image.

Hansen, representing himself, told the court he was not contesting the prosecution case and he was aware by accessing the images he was "perpetuating the abuse which is going on at the other end".

He said: "I am so ashamed of what I have done.

"There is no excuse.

"I am so sorry for everybody that has been involved in this sad situation.

"I would be so grateful if the sentence could be suspended to allow me to put right the wrongs I have done and allow me to make a contribution, the best I can, to the community.

"I fully understand the consequences of my actions.

"I did not at the time."

He told the court he had been looking at images for about 11 months.

Judge Goodin said: "In my judgement there are not very many of these category A images but here they are.

"Bearing in mind your background of exemplary character, any sentence I make I know must take that into account.

"All the indications are your remorse was real and there were particular factors that seem to have pushed you in this unhealthy direction."

Hansen was also sentenced to 80 hours unpaid work, given a sexual harm prevention order for seven years and he will be on the sex offenders' register for the same period.

Judge Goodin gave him 60 days of rehabilitation activity requirement so he can have "face to face help to deal with, and support, to ensure you are not tempted to go back to all that stuff".

Following the hearing, where he was ordered to pay £365 in costs and charges, a special case hearing was chaired by Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh, at Chelmsford County Court and Hansen was fired.

Mr Kavanagh found PC Hansen, who was based at Canvey police station, had breached the standards of professional behaviour in the area of discreditable conduct.

He was dismissed without notice.

Mr Kavanagh said: "The protection of public confidence in policing is vital if we are to face the scourge of child abuse imagery and other crimes in the modern age.

"Police officers should as part of their professional duties commit to the protection of the weak and the innocent.

"Every abuse image of a child re-victimises that vulnerable individual and is abhorrent to society. "Those in positions of power are rightly expected by the public and colleagues to adhere to appropriate standards of behaviour.

"The creation and storage of such a large number of child abuse images by someone sworn to protect the public demands a clear message that I am confident will be supported not just by senior colleagues but all colleagues in Essex Police.”