A police officer has appeared in court accused of snooping on personal information while at work.

PC Thomas Grant, dressed in a grey suit and purple tie, appeared in the glass dock at Worthing Magistrates’ Court yesterday, where he denied six identical counts in breach of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Grant, suspended on full pay from Sussex Police, spoke only to confirm his name and deny the counts.

Afterwards he refused to speak to The Argus.

His lawyer, Kim Goodall said he might provide a statement in the future but would not at this stage.

Grant, 24, is accused of obtaining or disclosing personal data.

Worthing Magistrates’ Court was told these offences allegedly took place “without the consent of the data controller” at Bognor police station between May 1, 2012, and October 24, 2012.

He is accused of “knowingly or recklessly obtaining personal data”.

However, the details of what these counts refer to were not revealed.

Suzanne Sorris, prosecuting, confirmed: “This defendant is a police officer.”

She said the case could go to either the crown or magistrates’ court – magistrates said they were happy to hear it at the lower court and Grant, of Stroud Green Drive, Bognor, elected to stand trial in front of a magistrate.

A Sussex Police spokesman yesterday said: “A police officer is appearing at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday charged with six counts of knowingly or recklessly obtaining personal data at Bognor police station.

“Thomas Grant, 24, a police constable based at Bognor Regis, is alleged to have committed the offences between May 1 and September 24, 2012, contravening Sections 55 (3) and 60 (2) of the Data Protection Act 1998.

“He is currently suspended from his role and is the subject of an internal disciplinary investigation.”

Grant is on bail and is next due to appear at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on October 4.