A POLICE officer has been suspended after being accused of texting a woman asking for sex and illicitly snooping on her using a police computer.

Christopher Robb, 29, an officer with Central Scotland Police, is alleged to have persistently texted the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, requesting sex.

The incident is said to have occurred between February 24 and 27 at Grangemouth police station, where Robb was based.

Robb, of Dunfermline, appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court charged with sending the woman messages that were "grossly offensive or indecent, menacing or obscene", and which asked for sex or were for the purpose of causing her "annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety".

He is further charged with obtaining the complainer's personal details by accessing police files relating to her held on the Central Scotland Police computer system.

Robb's solicitor, Kenneth Pringle, told Sheriff John Mundy his client denies all charges against him.

A trial is due to start on February 26.

Central Scotland Police confirmed an officer has been suspended.