A fireman honoured for bravery appeared in court today charged with theft and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Wearing beige trousers and a navy blue blazer, Geoff Parkinson, commander at Hailsham and Uckfield fire stations, spoke only to confirm his name at Lewes Magistrates Court.

Parkinson is charged with stealing a data and video projector worth £1,775 belonging to his employer, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, between January and March last year.

He is also accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice between June and August last year. He is alleged to have committed a series of acts instructing two people to write statements that he had the right to remove the property.

A spokeswoman for the service said Parkinson, of Christie Avenue, Ringmer, had been suspended from duty pending the outcome of the criminal inquiry.

The 37-year-old has been employed by the service since 1987 and worked for several years at Preston Circus fire station in Brighton.

The spokeswoman added: "The service is mindful this is now a criminal matter and will await the outcome accordingly."

Parkinson is a member of global disaster response team Rapid UK and was The Argus Local Hero of the Year 2002 for his work rescuing children from an earthquake in India.

He spent eight days searching for survivors and was part of the team which rescued a young boy trapped for more than 96 hours.

Parth Joshi had part of a leg amputated but Rapid UK, with Parkinson as fund-raising officer, secured money to take care of his medical needs until he is 18. The pair were reunited when the boy visited England for surgery.

Parkinson was one of 12 members of the charity asked to help rescue survivors after an Israeli offensive in the Palestinian community of Jenin.

He was also Rapid's training officer, travelling to Turkey to help train new search teams.

Last year a £12,000 reward was offered after a dog Mr Parkinson was training to search was stolen from his home and allegedly thrown from a car when thieves realised it had an identity tattoo.

Parkinson was bailed to appear at Lewes Crown Court on June 28.