A Royal Navy officer has appeared in court accused of trying to procure a ten-year-old girl for sex.

Jeremy Pepper, 31, of The Upper Drive, Hove, was caught by an undercover US customs officer after allegedly seeking out a youngster for sex through an internet chatroom, Horseferry Road Magistrates Court heard yesterday.

Pepper, chief petty officer based at the HMS Drake in Plymouth, faces further charges of attempting to incite the officer to send him indecent images.

The sailor is also accused of distributing child pornography and making more than 400 indecent images of youngsters.

Pepper, who has not indicated any pleas, was told his case would be sent to the Crown Court, probably the Old Bailey.

District Judge Peter Davidson granted Pepper conditional bail to return to court on September 26.

Pepper has been banned from using the internet and told to surrender his passport.

He is charged with attempting to incite an undercover officer to procure a girl between the ages of ten and 14 for unlawful sexual intercourse on dates between September 17 last year and February 11 this year.

He is also accused of distributing indecent photographs; attempting to incite an undercover officer to distribute indecent photographs; and making indecent photographs of children between January 5 and March 19 this year.