A POLICE officer has pleaded guilty to sending sensitive witness and police information from his force computer to his father.

Matthew Oaten, a constable with Thames Valley Police in Banbury, entered guilty pleas to three charges of computer misuse and two of breaching the Data Protection Act.

Winchester Crown Court heard that the data protection charges related to sending sensitive witness protection information and police operational data by an insecure email to his father.

The offences, some of which were committed while he was on duty, happened between February 2013 and May last year.

Gregory Fishwick, defending, said: "He accepts by accessing the command control computer when not an officer allocated to this job, he has committed the offence of computer misuse. There was no gain to himself by doing so.

"The defendant accepts he must have sent the offending emails but he cannot say why he did so. His father has no memories of receiving or opening them. He had no ulterior motive or gain."

The case against the 30-year-old, of Goodwood Close, Bicester, who was suspended by his force, has been adjourned for sentencing on Monday.

He was released on unconditional bail.