Police officer accused of string of offences including sexual assaults and ... trends now A highly-regarded police officer who ran an award-winning cadet unit used it as a 'grooming playground' for his 'sexual gratification', a court heard. Adnan Ali allegedly took advantage of 'inadequate oversight' by commanders to target 'young and vulnerable people'. The 36-year-old Greater Manchester Police constable is accused of 20 offences, including sexual assaults, sending indecent messages and misconduct in public office. His trial began today at Liverpool Crown Court, where Anne Whyte, KC, prosecuting, said the alleged offences took place as he dramatically expanded his group in Trafford, Manchester, from 30 to 130 youngsters. She said: 'He exploited the freedom he was given and the over-recruitment of cadets to commit sexual assaults and indulge in sexual and suggestive communications with young and vulnerable people who looked up to him.' Adnan Ali, 36, pictured, arriving at Liverpool Magistrates Court last August During Ali's time in charge of Trafford Volunteer Police Cadet Scheme, it won numerous local and national awards, the court was told. Jurors heard there was, however, a darker side to Ali's activities. 'Due to his own behaviour and Greater Manchester Police's failure to monitor it, the Trafford Cadet Scheme became something of a grooming playground for Adnan Ali,' the prosecutor added. The cadet group – which recruited members aged 13-17 - was only 'supposed to have about 30 members' – less than a quarter of its size at the time of Ali's arrest, the court heard. But Ms Whyte said: 'The increased numbers of cadets no doubt increased his opportunities to flirt, to test the waters and to act inappropriately. Adnan Ali is facing a trial at Liverpool Crown Court (stock image) 'Perhaps his own head was turned by his earlier success as an officer and by his popularity as a cadet leader. All of this coupled with his unrestrained sexual appetites and over familiarity was a recipe for misconduct and abuse. 'However inadequate GMP's oversight of the cadet scheme, Ali would have known about the standards of behaviour by which he was required to behave.' The court heard Ali's 'predatory but, at times carefully calibrated behaviour', would be 'misconduct and unlawful in any walk of life, but especially so for a police officer'. He is accused of initially targeting teens with 'grossly inappropriate' communications'. Ms Whyte added: 'At times, he went even further and touched his young charges sexually, no doubt in the hope that it might also progress to something more substantial.' She said his 'deeply unprofessional' behaviour was 'designed to gratify his own sexual inclinations which, on one view, were out of control'. Ali, of Old Trafford, Manchester, allegedly went on to sexually assault two teenage girls and a 17-year-old boy, and have sexualised conversations with six other teenage boys. He is also accused of sending indecent images to some of the teenagers. With some of his alleged victims, he ended messages with kisses and would talk about being in the bath and in bed, it is claimed. He allegedly massaged the shoulders of a 17-year-old boy cadet, hugged him and asked if he would ever consider having sex with a boy. Ms Whyte said: 'There was not one aspect of PC Ali's employment duties that either necessitated or justified the constant drip of over familiarity used to gain the confidence of young cadets and there was no excuse for the sexual familiarity.' Ms Whyte said he was arrested in October 2018 after one of the alleged victims complained about his behaviour. Other complainants then came forward. Ali – who denies all charges - was also involved in the recruitment of apprentice police officers, a number of whom were allocated to Trafford cadet unit under his supervision. Ms Whyte said highly-trained Ali behaved as if he 'had decided to throw the rule book out'. 'Not only did he allow himself to be alone with these young people, he deliberately made his relationships with them personal. 'As a police constable, he was there to nurture their professional development as cadets and apprentices, to oversee their welfare and safeguarding. 'Instead, he tried to befriend and then to groom them sexually, knowing that they would find it difficult to report him due to the imbalance of power and age, and to their perception that he could influence their careers.' The trial continues. All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility