Stephen Collins, best known as pastor Eric Camden on '7th Heaven', has reportedly been caught on tape confessing to inappropriate contact with three young girls, according to TMZ.

The gossip site has posted an audio recording of a man they claim is Collins admitting to the crimes which include exposing himself to an underage girl. The audio was said to have been recorded secretly during a 2012 therapy session with his now ex-wife Faye Grant.

Stephen CollinsFormer '7th Heaven' actor Stephen Collins

During the recording the man alleged to be Collins, firstly confessed to inappropriate contact with an 11-year-old New York girl who he said was a relative of his first wife Marjorie Weinman.  "There was one moment of touching where her hand, I put her hand on my penis.” When he was then asked if he had an erection when he exposed himself, he replied, "No, I mean, no. Partial, maybe, I think.”

He also confessed to exposing himself to two more underage girls including a Californian girl who lived in his Los Angeles neighbourhood and a 12- or 13-year-old in New York.

According to TMZ, the NYPD is now in possession of the tape and last Wednesday two detectives from the Special Victims Unit travelled to L.A. to interview Faye Grant. They also report that there is now a “current. active investigation” with an NYPD official quoted as saying there are “at least 3 victims" and the nature of the investigation is "inappropriate sexual contact with minors.”

sTPEHEN CollinsCollins starred as Eric Camden in the CW series

Stephen Collins starred in the CW family drama ‘7th Heaven’ between 1996 and 2007. He played the series’ father, Rev. Eric Camden who had seven children, including a young Jessica Biel.