A high-ranking detective from North Wales Police faces potential jail time following her conviction for unlawfully accessing police records concerning a male friend and three women. Detective Inspector Emma Gardner, aged 46, was found guilty at Caernarfon Crown Court of unauthorized computer access in 2022, despite initially denying the allegations.
During the trial, Judge Timothy Petts emphasized the severity of Gardner’s actions, stating that while imprisonment isn’t the only recourse, it will be a significant consideration at her sentencing scheduled for September. Court proceedings revealed that Gardner, a long-serving member of North Wales Police with experience in various units, had looked into police logs related to her male friend.
According to prosecutor Andrew Scott, Gardner accessed logs pertaining to minor complaints and gossip involving the man, who had previously worked as a bouncer while she was a uniformed officer in Rhyl. One particular message from Gardner read, “I have my uses.”
Despite the evidence presented, Gardner maintained that her access to the logs was solely for legitimate policing purposes and not influenced by her personal connection to the individual. She is set to be sentenced early next month.
Following the jury’s decision, Deputy Chief Constable Nigel Harrison commented, “We respect the jury’s verdict. The officer was suspended during the legal proceedings, and we will now proceed with disciplinary actions following the trial.”
