A SERVING Hampshire police officer is due to face a court hearing after being charged with serious child sex offences.

Police Constable Keith Burgess has been charged with a number of serious offences.

The 41-year-old has been charged with two counts of making an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child; one count of sexual assault on a female and one count of meeting a girl under 16 following sexual grooming.

Burgess, a neighbourhood policing officer based at Southampton Central Police Station, was also charged with three counts of misconduct in a public office.

The seven offences follow an investigation by the Professional Standards Department into misconduct in a public office.

PC Burgess was released on conditional bail to appear before Guildford Magistrates Court on Thursday, June 2.

He is currently suspended from duty while the criminal investigation is completed.

PC Burgess made history in Southampton when he opened the first neighbourhood surgery in one of the city's mosques.

He set up the drop-in surgery in Abu Bakr Masjid in Argyle Road where 1,200 Muslims worship in April 2013 while serving as an officer as a member of the Newtown Safer Neighbourhood Engagement Team.

PC Burgess, who became a bobby for the area in March 2013, was based in an office upstairs for a monthly session after the final Friday prayers of the month, for people to discuss crime, security and community matters in confidence.

Police have often visited the mosque and neighbouring Medina Mosque off St Mary’s Road to meet the community it was the first time a regular surgery has been held.

The role enabled him to signpost them to other partner agencies working with the police including environmental health and waste disposal services.

Anyone with any information should contact the force's Professional Standards Department on 101 quoting 44150216774 or call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.