A CHILD protection officer has been sacked after police found images of children being sexually abused on his computer.

Jonathan Ward, 46, worked at a specialist child protection unit for Surrey County Council until police raided his home in Hove, East Sussex, following a tip-off. He was spared jail after pleading guilty to six counts of making indecent images of children but the council confirmed the pervert has now been fired. There is no suggestion Ward - who previously worked in a similar role at Brighton and Hove City Council for 15 years - committed any offences in connection with girls he came into contact with through his work.

He was handed a seven-month jail term, suspended for two years, and 120 hours' community service.

Police arrested Ward after raiding his home last December following a tip-off and he was immediately suspended by town hall bosses.

Surrey County Council said: “Mr Ward was suspended as soon as these allegations came to light and has since been dismissed. The offences are unrelated to his work. Brighton and Hove Council said: “We are shocked and saddened but would like to emphasise that the offences are not connected to his employment with us.”

Sussex Police said: “None of the images, taken from the internet, are believed to be of children known to Ward and there is no evidence of physical contact offending.