A SENIOR police officer, whose son was yesterday jailed for sex attacks on underage girls, has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Cleveland Police confirmed last night that Chief Inspector Mick Williams has been suspended following his arrest.

The 48-year-old’s suspension from the force emerged after his son, Darryl Williams, pleaded guilty to six offences against five girls aged 12 and 15 between September 2009 and November 2012.

The 19-year-old, of Windsor Road, Redcar,wept in the dock at Newcastle Crown Court as he was sentenced to two years and nine months - half of which will be spent in a young offenders' institution and the rest on licence.

The charges included three counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and one count of sexual assault.

Judge John Milford QC said Williams would spend half of his sentence in a young offenders’ institute and the rest on licence.

He will be subject to a sex offenders’ prevention order for five years.

He said Williams had been "predatory and manipulative’"and "exploited young and impressionable females".

The judge said: “You had a high sex drive and were persistent. I am satisfied that you are an ongoing risk to underage females and that risk needs to be managed.”

The court heard Williams had returned from working abroad in Turkey to face the charges against him.

Nigel Soppitt, mitigating, said: “He has been immature and he has been reckless.

“He accepts that what he did was wholly unacceptable and inappropriate.”

Williams' policeman father was arrested last year, along with his 45-year-old wife and another 42-year-old man.

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: “On Friday November 8, 2013, two men, aged 48 and 42, and a woman, aged 45, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

"The 48-year-old is the father of Darryl Williams and is a serving police officer. He is currently suspended and all three have been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

“The matter was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), who then referred the matter back to Cleveland Police for a local investigation to be carried out. The file is currently with the CPS awaiting their decision.”

Last night, the parents of one of Darryl Williams' victims, said: “The sentence is a line in the sand where we, as a family, hope to be able to heal and move forward.”

Detective Inspector Kath Vickers, of Cleveland Police, which investigated the case, said: “Darryl Williams has received a sentence which reflects the seriousness of what he has done.

“I would like to take this opportunity to praise the young girls and their families for their courage and determination throughout the investigation and subsequent court process.

“I am hopeful now that the girls involved can begin the process of rebuilding their lives with the plans they had.”