A POLICE officer appeared in court today charged with indecently touching girls as young as seven.

Mark Verity, 21, is alleged to have indecently touched six girls between April 2005 and April this year.

Verity, of Ringstone Road, York, was suspended from his job with North Yorkshire Police after the allegations came to light earlier this year.

The officer was charged with ten counts of indecent assault on a child under 13 by touching, Leeds Magistrates Court heard.

He was released on conditional bail and is due to appear at Leeds Crown Court on October 30.