A Southampton student has denied hacking into a school’s computer system and posting a pupil’s report on the Internet.

Matthew Higgins, 19, from Colwyn Bay, Wales, is studying biomedical sciences at the University of Southampton and is also the student union’s disability officer.

He pleaded not guilty at Llandudno Magistrates Court to one offence under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 – alleging that he caused a computer to perform a function with intent to secure unauthorised access on March 23, 2011.

The alleged incident happened while Higgins was a pupil at Eirias High School in Conwy town.

The defendant has opted for the case to be heard at crown court, and has been bailed, subject to a condition barring him from contacting the pupil whose report he is accused of accessing.

He will appear at Llandudno Magistrates Court on Monday, March 5 for a committal hearing.