Father Gratien Alabi, 39, was being investigated over the disappearance of a local woman when cops found the X-rated images.

A police spokesman said: "He had somehow managed to persuade them to provide him with naked pictures. We are looking at his email traffic to find out what tricks he used."

Alabi's computer was full of the snaps and was seized following his arrest in connection with the disappearance of Guerrina Piscaglia, 36, from her home in the area of Ca Raffaello near the central town of Arezzo last May.

The woman's husband Mirko Alessandrini, 40, has organised a massive search for his missing wife, and police reportedly moved to arrest and question the priest after a threatening text message was found on the missing woman's mobile phone.

Sent from the a device belonging to Father Gratien Alabi, it warned her that talking poorly about a priest is something that she should avoid doing in the future.

Ms Piscaglia's family believe she may have been killed because she knew something about the priest's activities, which prompted him to arrange for her to be disposed of.

Police have so far declined to comment on the speculation.