A SERVING officer used police data records to find and visit a domestic abuse victim who he had a relationship with, a court heard.

Police Constable Matthew Oaten is charged with two counts of computer misuse and two counts of breaching the Data Protection Act for offences, spanning the last two years.

The 29-year-old is also accused of sending documents containing highly sensitive information on police operations to an email address belonging to his father.

Justices of the peace at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court heard today that the alleged crimes happened while Oaten was a serving officer stationed at Banbury police station.

The court heard that between March 14 and April 8 this year PC Oaten used the police command and control computer systems to carry out his own investigation on a woman who was already the subject of an investigation.

Kerry Richardson, prosecuting, said: "Mr Oaten was not even a part of that investigation, yet he accessed the system on several occasions to carry out his own investigation.

"Once the investigation had started it became apparent that he had had a relationship with the female in question in the past.

"With regards to the second charge, between February 3 and May 18 this year Mr Oaten visited the address of a female he had accessed information on, using the (police) computer.

"The woman had made a complaint of domestic violence and Mr Oaten continued to access the computer system relating to her. He had a relationship with that female."

The court heard that on February 10 2013, and again on August 2 the same year, Oaten sent documented information regarding police operations to his father's personal email account.

Oaten, of Goodwood Close in Bicester, was released on bail to appear at Winchester Crown Court on December 2. He is currently suspended from duty.