London: A British Airways pilot is facing trial in the UK for allegedly committing child sex offence against underage boys in India and Britain.
Bartle Frere is alleged to have used his job to meet underage boys and lavish them with money and gifts during stopovers in India between long-haul flights, Bournemouth Crown Court was told.
The pilot is accused of "arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence" against boys in India as well as abusing two boys in the UK.
The court heard detectives uncovered the 50-year-old's regular social network contact over six years with teenage boys in the sub-continent after seizing a computer from his former home in Dorset in November last year, according to media reports.
The pilot is alleged to have used a false name to book hotel rooms for his meetings with boys where he lavished them with money and gifts such as iPhones.
Prosecutor Elisabeth Bussey-Jones read to the jury some of the messages Frere had sent to the boys in India.
"I want a hug and have a bath with you and cuddle you in bed. Have you found any other boys you can bring to my hotel? Will you find me a boy?", the accused wrote in one of his messages.
On one occasion an Indian boy tells the pilot that he has a "surprise" for him to which Frere replied, "I cannot wait to discover your surprise."
According to the Prosecutor, the conversations indicate Frere was meeting these boys during the course of his role as a British Airways pilot and flying to various locations including India.
Bussey-Jones explained to the jury that police found photographs on Frere's mobile phone of a guest book for an Indian hotel.
It showed he had made a reservation under the name of "John Smith" for himself and two others.
Frere is charged with one count of sexual activity with a child and one charge of attempting to record a person doing a private act.
He also faces six charges of possessing indecent photographs of a child and four charges of making indecent photographs of a child.
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