Convicted sex offender Douglas Snelgrove has been released from jail pending the outcome of his appeal of his guilty verdict and sentence.

Snelgrove, who remains suspended as an RNC constable, was granted bail this morning by the province’s Surpeme Court of Appeal, despite the Crown’s opposition.

The appeal of his conviction and four-year sentence for sexual assault was filed in early December and claims the prison term is “harsh and unfit,” and that the judge didn’t properly instruct the jury on the key issue of inducing sex by abusing a position of trust or authority.

Snelgrove, now 44, was on duty and in uniform when he sexually assaulted a young woman in her apartment seven years ago on December 20.

In sentencing him to four years, the judge said he could not find another case in Canada where an on-duty, uniformed officer had done such a thing.

A date for Snelgrove’s appeal has not been set.