Abuse investigation unit detective remanded on child sex charges
A detective working in a child abuse investigation unit has appeared in court accused of a string of child sex offences, including alleged attacks on an eight-year-old girl.
Detective Constable Christopher Maitland, 40, who works in the Metropolitan Police’s sexual offences, exploitation and child abuse command, faces 14 charges dating back to 2005.
He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday accused of two charges of sexual touching of an eight-year-old girl in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, in October 2005.
He also faces five counts of taking an indecent image of a child and seven of making an indecent image of a child.
It is alleged the officer, of no fixed address, had 818 images and videos, ranging from the most serious category A to the lowest category C.
Maitland was originally arrested in November on suspicion of possession and distribution of indecent images of children and was arrested again on Tuesday on suspicion of sexual touching.
The officer, who wore a maroon jumper and grey jogging bottoms, was remanded in custody to appear at Southwark Crown Court on April 15.
He has been suspended from duty with his unit, named Sapphire, Scotland Yard said.
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