A FORMER special police constable who downloaded hundreds of 'outrageous' images of child pornography involving children as young as seven has been jailed for 20 months today.

Kevin Wilkes, 42, of Knights Way, Tewkesbury, pleaded guilty at Gloucester Crown Court to 14 counts of possessing the images both movies and stills.

Jailing him, Recorder Malcolm Gibney said "The children involved were aged from seven to 14 and the images depict acts of penetrative sex with adults, which is outrageous.

"You originally claimed that you came across these images by accident but this clearly was not the case.

"You have also claimed that you have gained no sexual satisfaction from this large number of images which, quite frankly, I find beyond belief.

"I think you knew full well what you were doing and a great number of vulnerable young children have been abused for your gratification.

"There was penetrative sexual activity and I must impose a deterrent sentence."

Wilkes was a special police constable at the time of the offences but has since quit Gloucestershire police.

The charges Wilkes admitted were all of making indecent images of children between January 2002 and April 2014. Twelve charges each related to one photo but the final two charges covered 222 movie files and 410 still images.

Of the movie files 90 were said to be at the most serious category A, 99 category B and 33 category C. There were 30 Category A still images, 80 at level B and 300 rated C.

Prosecuting barrister Julian Kesner said; "The defendant came to the attention of the authorities through an investigation being undertaken in Canada. He purchased an indecent film from a company based there and Gloucestershire Constabulary became involved.

"Some 39 discs were seized and the defendant had categorised them by writing in felt tip pen CP on some, which referred to Child Porn, and GAP which referred to Gay Adult Porn.

"There was internet browsing and file sharing by the defendant involving boys and girls in all three categories, from A, the most serious, to C, the least serious.

"There were some 222 movies found and 410 still images.

"Aggravating features include the high volume of images, the large number of victims and the long period of time the defendant offended from 2002 until 2014."

Defending lawyer Paul Trotman said: "My client is a man of previous good character and is the carer for his elderly parents his father is 82 and his mother is 79. He maintains that he has no sexual interest in children."

Wilkes was made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order until further notice and has to sign the Sexual Offenders register for ten years.