Ex-UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter charged in web child sex sting

Former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter has been charged in an online child sex case.

The 48-year-old, an outspoken critic of the Iraq war, allegedly exchanged graphic messages with a police officer posing as a 15-year-old girl.

He told the "girl" he wanted to have sex with her before sending her a link to his webcam and performing sex acts on camera, it is claimed.

Police traced the exchange to Ritter through a mobile phone number he provided, and confirmed the match through photographs.

He is free on £15,000 bail and is expected to face trial in March.

Ritter, of Delmar, New York, served as a weapons inspector from 1991 to 1998 before resigning. He became a harsh critic of the George Bush administration's push towards war.

It is not the first time he has faced child sex charges.

In 2001, he was caught in a similar internet sting, but blamed his arrest on his criticism of the Iraq war. The charges were dropped.