A NURSE from Burnley has been suspended by his professional watchdog after appearing in court charged with child porn offences.

Locum nurse David Hartley Haigh, 52, was charged by Lancashire Police with four offences following a 16-month investigation.

He appeared before Burnley magistrates on Christmas Eve, charged with three offences of making indecent photos or pseudo-photos of children, from August to October 2012, in connection with 63 movies seized from him.

Haigh, of Brunshaw Road, was also accused of possession of extreme pornography, involving sex with animals, between the same dates.

His case was sent for trial to Burnley Crown Court on March 31 and he was remanded on bail, on condition he does not approach witnesses in the case or have unsupervised contact with children aged under 16.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council’s interim orders panel, sitting at the Old Bailey in London, has also suspended his registration for 12 months pending the outcome of the proceedings.

Haigh was not present for the hearing, held before a three-strong panel, chaired by the NMC’s Nigel Bremner, which heard that his case was first referred to the watchdog by his employer, Pulse Staffing Ltd, on November 7, 2012.

He notified his employers regarding the allegations four days after he was arrested by police and remained on bail until he was charged late last year.

Haigh should be informed of their decision in writing as soon as possible, the panel ruled.