A SPECIAL constable used the police computer to discover a colleague had made a complaint about a sex attack - and then gossiped about it with work mates.

Daniel Scarff also trawled the system to uncover what he could about friends and family, including the father of his stepson.

And when the 25-year-old's wife Laura Tiley spoke to her ex about the lad being adopted she threatened him with information which should have been private, a court heard.

But after hearing Scarff, of Back Lane, Marshfield, Chippenham, was a bit of a Walter Mitty character and had never gained from the information he accessed, a judge imposed a suspended sentence.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how as well as being a Special the defendant was also working at Dyson in Malmesbury in late 2015.

He would tell them of his exploits in the force, including graphic details of road crashes and domestic disputes, and allowed them to think he was in the firearms team.

When talk turned to a female colleague he came back to work days later to tell people that she had made a complaint of sexual assault.

"He went further than that and he gave an opinion on that allegation He said she had cried rape when it was consensual," Miss Squire said.

Shortly after a man who worked with him was arrested after he was caught filming girls at a swimming pool.

Before the matter came to court Scarff again told everyone about what was alleged after looking it up on the computer.

The court heard the third incident was when he was trying to adopt his wife's son and she was speaking to her former partner, the boy's dad.

Miss Squire said Ms Tiley seemed to know there was a knife in her ex's car when it was broken into, adding something like 'We could plant things on you' and that she could find out about him and his family.

Scarff pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office.

Simon Cooper, defending, said his client had been thrown out of the police and was now in a new job for Powerline, who provide electricity for events.

He said as well as his stepson, who he has yet to adopt, he had a two-year-old son and another child due in April.

Although it was embarrassing for the victims, he said that he had not used the information to make a gain for himself.

He said his client was a Walter Mitty character who did not realise the seriousness of what he was doing.

Passing sentence Judge Robert Pawson said "Public confidence in the police depends on police staff applying the highest standard of behaviour."

He imposed an eight month jail term suspended for 18 months with 250 hours of unpaid work and told him to pay £650 compensation to each of his three victims.

Superintendent Tim Corner, head of Wiltshire Police's professional standards, said "All staff, officers and volunteers, are expected to adhere to the organisational values and behaviours and the consequences of such a breach of standards are clearly communicated within the Force.

"The public expect all police officers and staff to act professionally at all times and this includes appropriate use of police computers.

“Scarff’s actions have fallen below the standards expected of him, and it is only right that he is put before the courts.”