Neil Corbel, who was a detective inspector when he committed the crimes, posed as an airline pilot to book models for photoshoots before planting the gadgets in hotel rooms, flats and Airbnbs.

The cameras were hidden in everyday items, including tissue boxes, phone chargers, air fresheners, glasses, keys and headphones, to video his unsuspecting victims for up to four hours.

Corbel, 40, from Hertfordshire, had contacted victims online using the name "Harrison".

The married father-of-two, a former counter-terrorism officer, was caught after a model, who had agreed to pose naked for a photoshoot, became suspicious of a digital clock.

An internet search of the brand name revealed the device was a high-end spyware video-recording device which could be controlled from a smartphone.

When he was arrested, Corbel told police he was addicted to pornography and officers found images of 51 women on his hard drive, with 19 victims, including 16 models and three escorts, agreeing to make statements against him.

Corbel, who resigned after being suspended by the Met, where he was attached to the Continuous Policing Improvement Command, pleaded guilty to 19 voyeurism offences at Westminster Magistrates' Court in September.

Judge Martin Edmunds QC jailed Corbel for a total of three years at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday for the offences across the London, Manchester and Brighton areas between January 2017 and February 2020.

"You used a range of deceptions to induce women to take off their clothes in your presence so you could record videos for your sexual gratification," he told Corbel.

"You did so using multiple strategically placed covert cameras, sometimes as many as nine."

He added that the victims "were entitled to have the personal autonomy" and each had set "clear boundaries".

The judge said Corbel did not exploit his police role to either "locate or intimidate" his victims and did not use "police equipment or specialist police knowledge".

However, he said the revelation it was a serving officer had "seriously undermined" his victims' trust in police.

Three of Corbel's victims watched on as he was jailed, having faced him in court to read their victim impact statements.

One model, who agreed to pose for a "fashion and artistic nude shoot", was visibly angry as she told Corbel his crimes had "affected every aspect of my life".

"I have pulled so much of my hair out with stress I have bald spots and have had to turn down work," she said, showing her scalp to the court.

Other victims, who were not in court, mentioned the case of 33-year-old marketing executive Sarah Everard, who was snatched off the street before being raped and murdered by Metropolitan police officer Wayne Couzens.

"The fact that he is policeman is a huge deal," said one.

"These people are meant to protect us. Following the murder of Sarah Everard this feels like a very frightening time to be a woman."

Edward Henry QC, defending, said Corbel felt "genuine remorse" for the "deplorable activity" and was voluntarily seeking to "combat" his sex addiction.

He said Corbel, who had "put people away who would have done terrible harm and caused much bloodshed" during his 13-year career, did not spend police money or commit the offences on police time.