Church minister faces sex charges

A church minister has been charged with 23 offences involving the grooming of children via the internet and making indecent images.

The Reverend Simon Thomas, 44, was arrested at home in Hythe, Hampshire.

He was charged with 20 counts of making indecent images of children and one count of causing a child to look at an image of sexual activity.

The United Reformed Church minister is also charged with causing a 13-year-old to engage in sexual activity.

He faces one grooming offence of travelling to meet a 12-year-old boy for sexual purposes.