A police chief is facing up to six-and-a-half years in jail after he was convicted of breaking into the home of Sarah Jessica Parker’s surrogate Michelle Ross.

Disgraced Barry P Carpenter has also been fired from his job following the court case.

Carpenter was cleared yesterday of three burglary charges, but convicted on charges of theft in office, tampering with evidence and receiving stolen property.

The policeman was arrested in the summer after various paparazzi revealed that they had been offered ultrasound pictures of Parker’s surrogate twins, pictures of Ross and legal documents.

Carpenter later admitted that he had gone into the home of Ross in Martins Ferry, Ohio, but only because a basement door had been left open.

Carpenter will be sentenced on 30 December, but will be confined to his mother’s home until then.

Police chief Chad M Dojak, 29, who also faces criminal charges in the case, will stand trial on 12 January.

Special prosecutor T Shawn Hervey said after the case: “This sends a message to rogue cops all over America that if you perpetrate a crime like this, you will be caught.”