John Blott, 33, a constable with Cleveland Police force, was found guilty at Leeds Crown Court on May 1 of raping two teenagers and indecently assaulting a woman.

At a disciplinary hearing in front of Chief Constable Barry Shaw, all three charges were found proved and Blott, who was not at the hearing, was dismissed.

'Substantial risk'

Blott had claimed in court that he was irresistible to the opposite sex and had dated hundreds of girls.

But Mr Justice Hooper said he was a "substantial risk" to women.

The judge said he had abused his position as a policeman to gain the trust of the women before asking them out. He then conned them to go to his home where they were sexually assaulted.

Blott faces a torrid stay in prison because not only is he a policeman, but a sex offender as well, the judge said.

He originally faced two charges of rape and four of indecently assaulting women in their 20s between 1993 and 1995.

'Willing partners'

The jury found him not guilty of two of the assaults and he was cleared on the judge's direction of a third.

Blott's name will be added to the list of sex offenders and he will have to report to his local police station on his release.

In court, Blott - a former footballer with Carlisle United and Mansfield Town - said the women were attracted to him and were willing partners.

The jury heard that because he was a police officer, the women were put off from coming forward because they thought they would never be believed.

The investigation was launched last year after one woman confided in a colleague, who in turn told a friend who was a special constable.

When reports appeared in the local media, more women came forward.