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Nathan Connolly - Source: ONE News -
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Former police officer Nathan Connolly has lodged an appeal just hours after being sentenced to prison for using his position of power for sex.
Last month the 31-year-old was found guilty of inducing an act of sexual connection by threat after he had unpaid sex with a prostitute in his patrol car nearly two years ago.
He was cleared of bribery and another count of inducing sexual connection by threat.
Connolly was sentenced at the High Court in Christchurch on Thursday, which was told the sexual offence had ruined him financially and damaged his relationship with his wife and two young children.
Connolly received a two-year jail term after home detention was ruled out.
"Home detention would be an inappropriate response to the seriousness of this offending involving a police officer abusing his power for his own personal benefit," the sentencing judge said.
The jail term was welcomed by the complainant's supporters.
"We are very pleased that he has gone to prison ... it was a total abuse of trust and she was very fearful about her situation for a long time," says Anna Reed of Prostitutes Collective.
His lawyer, Jonathan Eaton, says he filed an appeal just after midday Thursday against both Connolly's conviction and sentence.
A date for that hearing is yet to be set.
In the meantime Connolly is now behind bars, but will likely be kept in solitary confinement due to being an at risk prisoner.
