A journalist who helped expose MPs fiddling their expenses has appeared at Dartford magistrates court accused of internet child abuse offences.

Ben Leapman, 43, former deputy news editor of the Sunday Telegraph, spent four years battling to get the House of Commons to come clean on their spending.

He was also blogging widely on the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph websites before leaving the company in December.

Leapman, from Vauxhall, London, made a second appearance at the court on Monday morning.

He has been remanded on bail having been charged with possessing and publishing obscene and pornographic articles on an internet chat log.

Kent Police said officers from the force arrested Leapman in north Kent on November 26.

North Kent magistrates adjourned the case until April 16 when committal proceedings to Maidstone Crown Court are set to take place.

He has not entered a plea. The allegations relate to nine offences over a period from July 13, 2008 to November 26, 2011 - one which is said to have involved discussing the abuse of a child of pre-school age.

Leapman’s bail conditions enable him to use a computer “for legal recreation and work purposes" but he must not be with children under 16 years old unsurpervised.