A paedophile policeman has been jailed for more than three years.

Stephen Kelly, 47, was convicted of indecently assaulting a seven-year-old girl during his 15-year career with Sussex Police He had denied the charges, which came to light after he left the force in 2007, but was convicted at Maidstone Crown Court and sentenced to 40 months in prison.

Kelly joined Sussex Police as a special constable in 1990 and became a full police constable in 1992.

He served as a response officer in Hastings.

After he left the force to join Lancashire Constabulary, a 14-year-old girl complained he had abused her between 1997 and 1999, when she was aged seven and eight.

Sussex Police launched an inquiry and seized his computer, which contained 17 indecent images of children as young as three.

The discovery led to his resignation as a police officer.

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said: “The offences for which he has been found guilty were reported to police after he had transferred from Sussex Police, although they were committed whilst he was a serving officer with the force.

“They were not, however, committed during the course of duty.”

Once reported, Sussex Police immediately launched an investigation which resulted in him being charged and subsequently convicted.”

A judge at Maidstone Crown Court ordered Kelly to serve three years for the indecent assaults and four months consecutively for possessing indecent images.

He was also banned from unsupervised contact with children and his name put on the sex offenders’ register for life.