A POLICE officer is facing jail after admitting harassing a string of young women.

Ryan Reid, 27, terrorised his victims by turning up at their homes and workplaces and sent them dozens of sexual messages online.

He also used his position to access confidential data about people who were not under investigation using police computers.

The special constable sent naked pictures of himself to one of the women along with grossly offensive messages on Facebook.

Reid, of Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, who was stationed at Carluke Police Office, admitted seven charges between October 2010 and March 2013, involving five women when he appeared at Lanark Sheriff Court.

He admitted two charges of stalking women, three under the Communications Act and one under the Sexual Offences Act. He also pled guilty to an offence under the Data Protection Act.

After he was charged, Reid complain on his Facebook he had just been trying to be a "nice guy".

Reid had not guilty pleas accepted to a further six charges of causing annoyance or needless anxiety to a total of six separate women.

Sheriff Nikola Stewart deferred sentence on Reid until next month for a full range of background reports.