A civilian call handler has been handed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, for illegally accessing police computers.
The 38-year-old, who cannot be named due to a reporting restriction, and whose address was given as c/o of PSNI Brooklyn, Knock, in east Belfast, had previously pleaded guilty at Belfast Crown Court to a single count under the Computer Misuse Act 1990.
The offence was committed on dates between February 2 2016 and September 6 2020.
Prosecution barrister James Johnston confirmed to Judge Gordon Kerr KC that although the defendant had unauthorised access to a police computer, "no monies were gained through this access, there was no further criminal offending other than what he was doing and there was no security breach over and above him accessing the materials''.
Mr Johnston: “This is a case where curiosity has resulted in him snooping on people he knew.”
The defendant used his access to police computers to “obtain materials for personal reasons”.
The judge said although this should not have happened: “I am satisfied there was no ulterior motive other than you trying to explore your own interests in finding out material about these people’'.
“Had you been doing this on behalf of someone else, or had there been any security breach as a result of your activities this would have led to a substantial and immediate custodial sentence,” said Judge Kerr.
"This was a breach of trust and in my view a serious breach of trust for someone who is given such access and then to abuse it although in this case it didn't lead to any further offending.''