A ‘DEVIOUS’ and ‘manipulative’ former police officer took the virginity of a teenage girl he had groomed with boasts of his BMW, flying instructor role and job, a court heard.

David Waller is accused of carrying out a catalogue of abuse on teenage girls, including three charges of rape, over a 12-year period.

Teesside Crown Court heard that some of the allegations occurred whilst Waller served as a Cleveland Police officer between 2006 and 2010.

He is also accused of grooming some of his alleged victims for his own sexual gratification, including persuading one girl to send the defendant pictures of a sexual nature.

Matthew Bean, prosecuting, told the jury how the defendant had targeted eight different victims, including some he met through theatre groups, with six of the eight alleged victims being teenagers.

The 33-year-old, of Autumn Grove, Stockton, denies all charges which allegedly took place between December 2004 and April 2016.

The court heard how the offences took place against several victims with the first allegation taking place when the defendant himself was 19-years-old.

One of the victims was allegedly targeted by the former Cleveland Police officer during a criminal investigation being carried out by the force. The former PC is facing a charge of misconduct in a public office as a result.

The first complainant will tell the court how the defendant targeted her in her own home when he groped her breasts.

Outlining the accusation from the second complainant, the prosecutor said: “He bragged that he had a BMW, flew planes and was in the police – this was an attempt to impress her and it was a case of sexual grooming over the course of the messages.

“She will tell you she now realises as an adult looking back that this was designed to impress her. But at the time she didn’t appreciate what he was doing.”

Mr Bean said the third complainant will tell the court how she was targeted while the defendant was working as a flight instructor.

The prosecution will say this was sexual grooming behaviour, leading to rape when she was a teenager, though not underage.

Mr Bean said: “In this case she was just 16, he was a man in his 20s, she told the defendant to stop when they started sexual activity – at no time did they discuss having sex.”

The fourth alleged teenage victim was sent messages by the defendant trying to groom her into sexual activity but the witness will tell the court that nothing sexual happened between the pair.

The court heard how he would pick up the fifth complainant, another young girl, from her school before taking her to a club, plying her with drink and then taking her to his home where they had unprotected sex.

The prosecutor said: “He targeted a young girl and plied her with drink in order to have sex with her.”

Dealing with the evidence due to be heard from the sixth complainant, the court will hear the pair contacted each other through social media with the defendant’s tone becoming ‘sexualised’.

Mr Bean said Waller encouraged the teenager to send him pictures of her in her pyjamas and asked questions about her bra-size and her weight.

Mr Bean added: “The prosecution say that it is clear that, as a result of his requests, (the complainant) has sent him a further photograph of herself.

“He referred to this photograph in a message – ‘I almost choked when I saw a picture coming through. I thought you’d have taken your bra off lol…I still love these pictures.’ A series of messages of a sexual nature were then exchanged between the defendant and (the complainant).”

In one message he wrote: “Love you sexy girl xxxx.”

Mr Bean added: “These messages show him to be both devious and manipulative.”

The seventh alleged victim was an adult woman who was taking part in a theatre group performance. The court will hear that Waller gave the woman a hug but also grabbed hold of her bottom.

And the eighth complainant will tell jurors that a sexual relationship started between the pair while Waller, a serving Cleveland Police officer, was investigating a case of harassment against her.

The witness will say that the sex was consensual, however, the prosecution will say the relationship was an abuse of his position as a serving police officer.

The first witness is expected to give evidence in the morning.

The trial, which could last for up to four weeks, continues.