Met officer in court on attempted child sex charge

A serving Scotland Yard officer appeared in court today charged with trying to meet a child on the internet for sex.

Christopher Exley, 32, is accused of planning to arrange a sex offence.

He attended Westminster Magistrates' Court for a preliminary hearing, a court official said.

He was bailed to return to the court on July 4, when his case is expected to be committed to crown court.

Scotland Yard said the officer, who has been suspended from duty, was charged with "attempting to arrange the commission of a child sex offence, contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 2003".

The arrest is understood to have resulted from a covert operation at the force.

PA