Man and woman sentenced for unauthorised computer access in Stoke-on-Trent
The pair accessed sensitive information unlawfully
Shane Davis and Lauren Leese have been sentenced after admitting to unlawful access of computer material involving sensitive information.
Davis, a 36-year-old inmate of HMP Dovegate, and 30-year-old Leese, from Trentham, both pleaded guilty at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on 9th March.
Davis received a 12-month sentence to be served concurrently with his current sentence.
Leese was sentenced to 12 months, suspended for 18 months.
Leese was employed as an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor with the Stoke-on-Trent charity Savana when she was arrested in September 2024.
She had denied the offence during the investigation.
Evidence revealed that over a six-month period in 2024, Leese unlawfully accessed and shared sensitive information pertaining to a child victim of sexual offences with Shane Davis.
Davis utilized the information to intimidate another prisoner.
Detective Inspector Lewis Haigh said: “Lauren Leese held a position of trust at responsibility with Savana, which she betrayed, letting down the victims she supported, her colleagues and the public.
“She was only supposed to access sensitive and confidential information when necessary to support and advocate for victims of serious crime and instead she passed information to Davis, who was on remand awaiting a trial after being charged with rape offences and who she sustained a relationship with whilst he was in prison.”
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