A policeman committed a sex act in front of groups of girls, some as young as 11, while he held a pornographic magazine, a court heard.

PC Lee Doggett, 24, denied nine charges relating to five separate allegations last July in Cramlington, Northumberland.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the officer was ''literally caught red-handed'' in a park by police who were looking for a serial flasher - after there had been reports of a series of offences over the previous five days.

Caroline Goodwin, prosecuting, told the jury two separate groups of girls, some aged just 11, were walking to school along a cycle path when they saw a man committing a sex act while looking at them and reading a pornographic magazine.

Police patrols were deployed to the area and the next day an officer arrested PC Doggett after he allegedly caught him committing a sex act in a park near a group of children.

PC Doggett, whose address cannot be reported for legal reasons, denies five counts of outraging public decency by committing acts of a lewd, obscene and disgusting nature. He also denies four counts of gross indecency with a child.

The case was adjourned until Monday and is expected to last until Tuesday.