Former Sunday Telegraph journalist Benjamin Leapman in child porn denial

A journalist who helped expose MPs fiddling their expenses has denied a series of child pornography charges.

Benjamin Leapman, 43, is accused of making indecent images of children between July 13 2008 and November 26 2012.

The counts relate to six still images, one at the second highest level of seriousness.

Today, Leapman, a former deputy news editor of the Sunday Telegraph, denied the four counts at Maidstone Crown Court in Kent.

He also denied a charge of possessing an extreme pornographic image on November 26 2012.

Leapman, of Aldebert Terrace, Vauxhall, London, spoke only to confirm his name and make his pleas.

During his career, he spent several years battling to get the House of Commons to come clean on their claims.

He also blogged extensively on the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph websites before leaving the company.

Leapman is due to return to court for his three-day trial on August 12, with a pre-trial review scheduled for July 22.

PA