Prison officials and police are investigating if an inmate convicted of killing a traffic police officer illegally accessed Xbox's internet gaming service from his cell under the nickname "Cop Killer".

Gary Cody, who said prison was "easy" before he was jailed in 2014 over the death of Pc Andy Duncan, accessed Microsoft's Xbox Live and web TV from his cell at HMP Ford using a smuggled mobile phone, according to The Sun.

The 28-year-old is said to have adopted the name for a profile on the gaming platform that allows users to play against each other and communicate over the internet.

The Prison Service launched an investigation when Cody, who is also known as Gary Bromige, posted pictures on social media of him using the console at the Category D jail.

It is understood that intelligence linking him to the Cop Killer profile is yet to be uncovered and the matter has been referred to Sussex Police to investigate.

Cody was jailed for eight and a half years over the death of Pc Duncan who was hit while carrying out speed checks in Sutton, south London, in the early hours of September 20 2013.

The father-of-two had stepped out to pull Cody over after he was detected driving at 80-88mph in his VW Golf GTI.

Cody, a serial offender who was uninsured at the time, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

When he was sentenced a judge said he had been heard telling fellow inmates: "Prison is easy. I've got my telly. Don't care how long I get."

A Prison Service spokesman said: "Prisoners do not have access to Sky TV. Where there is evidence to suggest offenders are illegally accessing the internet, we will always push for the strongest possible punishment - including referring the matter to the police as we have done in this case."