A FORMER police officer is facing trial for child sex grooming and rapes.

David Waller, from Stockton, was also accused of misconduct in a public office when he appeared before a judge at Teesside Crown Court.

The case relates to three girls.

Mr Waller is alleged to have incited them to engage in sexual conduct, also to have met them following sexual grooming, and three charges of rape.

Prosecutor Paul Cleasby said that Mr Waller was interviewed by the police as recently as last week.

He has not been formally charged, but he was going to be charged with the offences.

Mr Cleasby said that the trial was likely to last three or four weeks

Victoria Lamballe, defending, said that he was aware that there were other matters.

Judge Peter Armstrong told Waller, of Autumn Grove, Stockton, that his trial would take place on June 3 next year.

The judge renewed his bail until then, and he said that he must provide his defence statement on or before November 26.