A HAMPSHIRE detective has been given a suspended jail sentence for using the police computer to track down paedophiles.

Detective Sergeant Derek Hatch, who has resigned from the force, searched the names of addresses of offenders before contacting them with lewd suggestions.

Guildford Crown Court also heard allegations that Hatch had a sexual liaison with one of the men, which he denied.

Hatch claimed he only contacted the men, two of which had been extradited from Thailand, to berate them.

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The 48-year-old was caught after he used his mobile phone to contact the men, the court heard.

Hatch, an intelligence officer based at Portsmouth, had privileged access to the record management system which he used to contact the men even though he was not involved in their cases.

Hatch, from Gosport, was sentenced to a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years and was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work for the offence of misconduct in a public office.

Detective Sergeant Jason Attwell, of the anti-corruption unit at Hampshire police, said: ''I can confirm that officers from Hampshire Constabulary's anti corruption unit conducted an investigation in response to information that a member of the constabulary was abusing his position for personal gain.

"This matter is taken very seriously, and the robust and thorough investigation conducted, resulting in this successful prosecution of former Detective Sergeant Hatch, is indicative of the constabulary's response to such allegations."