A bobby who lives in Widnes was "unable to contain his urges" as he committed a string of sexual assaults while on duty, a court has heard.

Merseyside police constable Christopher Hopkins, aged 41, is said to have targeted his three alleged victims between 2006 and 2013 - an under age girl, a 17-year-old girl and a work colleague at Merseyside Police.

The married dad from Wickham Close, Upton Rocks also allegedly arranged over the internet to meet a man for sexual activity when he should have been on mobile police patrol.

Opening the case today, Richard Haworth, prosecuting, told jurors: "The Crown's case, in a nutshell, is that he was unable to contain his sexual urges and all of these alleged offences were committed to satisfy his predatory sexual nature.

"As an overall view, the audacity and impertinence of some of the sexual advances beggars belief at times. But such an approach is a common feature of his offending."

The first complainant was aged between 13 and 15 when Hopkins visited her home address after she had been reported missing.

While alone together in the kitchen Hopkins commented she looked old for her age and effectively "gave her the once over" as he looked her up and down, said the prosecutor.

Mr Haworth said the complainant felt "intimidated" when Hopkins asked her for a kiss.

She went to give him a kiss on the cheek but the defendant turned and kissed her on the lips, the court heard.

The teenager went on to have further dealings with the complainant and arrested her on one occasion.

Mr Haworth said that while en route to the police station the defendant remarked to a fellow officer: "How long do you think it will before she is pregnant?"

The prosecutor went on: "He had possession of her mobile phone and he was looking through the content.

"He found pictures stored on her phone which depicted her wearing only her underwear and, the prosecution say, he showed them to his colleague in due course."

Hopkins denies five counts of sexual assault, one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of misconduct in a public office.

The next alleged victim was a work colleague of the defendant, the court was told.

Hopkins is said to have approached her desk at the police station and twice suggested they could have a sexual liaison.

Mr Haworth said: "On each occasion this offer was firmly rejected but the defendant would not let that lie and said 'If you want an affair, you know where I am' and at which point he slapped her on the upper part of her leg. Touching her, assaulting her."

Immediately after, he affronted another female colleague when he suggested they should meet up for sex while he was on police duty, said the prosecutor.

The third complainant, who was 17 at the time, was given a lift home by Hopkins in his marked patrol car as she walked from a friend's house.

Mr Haworth said he drove her to a secluded location and parked before engaging in "sexually explicit" conversation.

Hopkins is said to have commented on her breasts and then touched a hole in her leggings.

The prosecutor said: "He asked to touch her leg again. She said categorically 'no' but the defendant touched in between both legs midway up above her knee."

Hopkins then kissed her on the lips despite her refusing his advances, he added.

The defendant's mobile phone was seized and analysed by investigators when he was arrested over the alleged sexual assaults.

Mr Haworth said: "What it revealed was an astonishing amount of material that had been recorded or stored in effect between the defendant and someone using the pseudonym 'Roxy'.

"The conversation was over the internet. Roxy was identified as a male person and was advertising himself for sexual services via a website which is known as Craigslist, where contacts of all sorts of natures can be made."

While on duty, Hopkins was said to have proposed a meeting with Roxy and described in "graphic terms" the anticipated events to follow.

The prosecutor said: "Such was the enthusiasm of the defendant, he indicated that he could be with Roxy within 30 minutes.

"The defendant, say the Crown, should have been on mobile police patrol."