Council worker spared prison after four-day data-snooping spree

A Herefordshire Council employee abused his access to systems in the Children and Young People directorate, unlawfully viewing roughly 490 records and downloading 94 documents over four days that included highly sensitive personal information (medical records, social worker reports, child and family assessments). He pleaded guilty to unlawful access under the Computer Misuse Act, received a two‑month prison sentence suspended for 12 months, was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work, and pay costs and a victim surcharge.