A former Sussex Police officer charged with misconduct in a public office has appeared in court.

David Rolls, 46, is alleged to have abused his position of trust and responsibility to a woman known to him. He wore a shirt as he appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court by video link from his home in Cumnock, East Ayrshire, this afternoon for the first hearing.

Rolls, known as Will, resigned from his position as a detective chief inspector in March this year.

His charge alleges that between January 2016 and March 2018, while he was a serving officer in Worthing, Rolls misconducted himself in a way that "amounted to an abuse of the public’s trust".

It is alleged that Rolls abused his position of trust and responsibility to another police officer to whom he was welfare officer.

District Judge Amanda Kelly said that the case could not be dealt with at Magistrates’ court as it is an indictable-only offence.

Rolls, who nodded to confirm his understanding, was granted unconditional bail.

He will appear before Lewes Crown Court to enter a plea on October 12.

The matter was referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct who directed that a local investigation by the Professional Standards Department should be conducted.

Sussex Police will consider misconduct proceedings once criminal proceedings have concluded.