A Suffolk police investigator illegally accessed the constabulary’s computer for information on two of his male lovers, a court has heard.

Thomas Dunn, of Rose Lane, Ipswich, also checked up on a man whose name was found on a piece of paper headed ‘rent boys’, as well as five other people, Norwich Crown Court was told.

The 28-year-old denies 10 charges of illegally obtaining personal data.

One of the allegations relates to a car parked near Dunn’s former home in Worsdell Close, Ipswich.

Prosecutor David Wilson said in October 2012 Suffolk and Norfolk’s joint anti-corruption unit was alerted after Dunn had looked up the number plates of two vehicles related to a large-scale investigation in May and October 2012.

However, no intelligence had been submitted by him in relation to the vehicles.

After Dunn was asked about accessing the data, a full audit of his work was carried out.

Mr Wilson said Dunn was “prolific” in accessing information systems.

Between October 11 and January 12 he completed more than 200 checks on the police national computer, but only submitted 15 pieces of intelligence – a ratio of seven-and-a-half per cent.

Mr Wilson said: “When further checks were made what became clear was that Mr Dunn was submitting requests and looking up on the crime information system pieces of information that really appeared to relate to his personal life rather than any policing purpose.”

The jury was told Dunn was looking at the system to satisfy his own curiosity regarding individuals he knew, and people associated with them.

On April 8, 2012, Dunn is alleged to have checked the details of a man he had a casual sexual relationship with in order to see if it was appropriate for it to continue.

On June 30, 2012, and October 8, 2012, Dunn was said to have accessed the details of another man he was in a relationship with over a period of 12 months. The man had told him that he had been in trouble with the police in his youth. Dunn is also accused of looking up the man’s brother on the police computer on October 27.

Mr Wilson said on January 18 last year Dunn, who worked at Martlesham police investigation centre, checked on another man.

After Dunn’s arrest on January 30 last year police found a piece of paper headed ‘rent boys’ with a list he compiled, the court heard. The man’s name was the second one on the list.

Among the other men whose data Dunn is accused of illegally accessing are the brother of a girl he went to school with, an Ipswich bar owner and two other men he knew socially.

The case continues.