A SOUTHAMPTON police sergeant has been jailed for 15 years after being convicted of raping a schoolgirl.

Gary Clark, 48, was found guilty of a total of 17 offences - including ten counts of indecent assault on a female under 16, six counts of indecency with a child and one count of rape.

Clark, who was suspended from duty last August while investigations were carried out, was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court this morning.

Detective Inspector Victoria Dennis, of Hampshire Constabulary, said: "I welcome these convictions which follow a lengthy investigation by Hampshire Constabulary.

"Our thoughts are with the victim and her family at this time.

"I hope today's result will bring some level of closure to the victim and her family and that she can now start to rebuild her life."

He will now be subject to an internal police misconduct investigation.

Det Insp Dennis added: "Hampshire Constabulary takes any allegations of this kind extremely seriously and will investigate them thoroughly.

"It is extremely rare for a Hampshire constabulary officer to be charged and convicted of such serious sexual offences.

"At Kingston Crown Court today, Mr Clark was sentenced with a total of 12 years imprisonment and three years extended sentence for rape, the other 16 counts will run concurrently.

"The constabulary would like to reassure residents that Hampshire and the Isle of Wight remains a safe place to live, work and grow old."