A police investigator has been charged with 10 counts of illegally accessing personal data on Suffolk Constabulary’s computer.

Thomas Dunn, a civilian worker based at Martlesham headquarters’ police investigation centre, is also facing a further offence of offering to supply a Class A drug.

The alleged unlawful use of the force’s database is said to have spanned a period of 17 months.

The 28-year-old, of Rose Lane, Ipswich, was arrested at work earlier this year.

Dunn is now due to make his first appearance on the 11 charges before Norwich magistrates next month.

The police staff investigator was detained at police headquarters on January 30.

It is understood the allegations involving the personal data said to have been accessed illegally relate to nine people/ vehicle details.

After being questioned following his arrest on the database accusations Dunn was released on bail until March 27 pending further enquiries.

He was subsequently re-bailed until April 11.

When he reported back to officers last month Dunn was questioned about the alleged the drug offence, which is said to have taken place two years ago. He was then bailed for a third time.

Dunn was charged when he returned to Bury St Edmunds police investigation centre on May 14.

His case has been investigated by anti-corruption officers from Suffolk Constabulary’s professional standards department.

Dunn is understood to have worked for the force for six years.

Lisa Miller, a spokeswoman for Suffolk Constabulary said: “A 28-year-old man from Ipswich will appear at Norwich Magistrates Court on Tuesday, June 4, having been charged with eleven offences.

“Thomas Dunn, of Rose Lane, Ipswich, was charged on May 14 with ten offences relating to the unlawful obtaining of personal data and one offence of offering to supply cocaine.

“The ten charges relate to incidents that are alleged to have occurred between September 2011 and January 2013 in which personal information was obtained from police databases.

“The charge in relation to the supply of cocaine relates to an alleged incident in Ipswich on Wednesday 6th April 2011.”

Dunn is currently suspended from his post pending the outcome of his case.