A FORMER police officer bombarded a teenage girl with thousands of messages as he attempted to groom her, a court heard.

David Waller is facing a catalogue of complaints from several teenage girls, including three charges of rape, over a 12-year period.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the defendant had sent one of the complainants almost 4,000 messages in short space of time after meeting her.

The jury heard that Waller had also exchanged a number of images via social media that were shared between the pair – most of which have never been recovered.

Matthew Bean, prosecuting, told the court that the complainant had created several social media profiles to contact people, including one incident when she pretended to be older than her age to start an online relationship with a man in his 30s.

Earlier in the trial, the court heard that some of the allegations occurred whilst Waller served as a Cleveland Police officer between 2006 and 2010.

During a police interview, the seventh complainant told how Waller had grabbed her bottom and laid his head between her legs during a number of “strange” incidents.

When he put his head between her legs, she said: “It was in front of everybody, it wasn’t like I was on my own. I mentioned it to my husband, I thought it was just a bit strange.”

She added: “He thought it was really funny. I laughed at the time and just thought it was really bizarre.”

The complainant said a friend of hers was interested in Waller but was really “disappointed” when she realised that the defendant was only interested in hanging around with younger females.

Under cross examination from Nicholas Lumley, QC, the complainant said his behaviour was very “inappropriate”.

She accepted that when he appeared between her legs that everyone thought it was funny at the time but added she didn’t know whether it was normal behaviour.

Waller, 33, of Eastleigh, Thornaby, denies all the charges against him relating to eight victims.

He is accused of meeting some of his alleged victims through his roles with Cleveland Police, as a flying instructor and various theatre groups between 2004 and 2016.

The allegations include three charges of rape, three counts of inciting underage girls to engage in sexual activity, three of meeting or attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming, two counts of sexual activity with a child, and one of sexual assault.

He faces an additional charge of misconduct in a public office from his time in the police.

The trial continues.