A Co Armagh police officer is “likely to lose his job” following his conviction for unlawfully accessing computer systems to obtain information on a number of individuals – including his own son.
Christopher Robert Michael Brett, whose address was given as PSNI Knock Road, Belfast, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday for sentencing on 12 charges comprising six counts each of unlawfully obtaining personal information and doing so without the consent of the data controller.
The offences were committed over an 11-year period between July 2011 and September 2022.
The 50-year-old, who had previously pleaded guilty to the offences, expressed to Probation how he was “embarrassed and ashamed of his behaviour”.
Brett’s defence barrister, Patrick Taylor, said his client was “ignorant” during the earlier time period of offending, in that “he thought that he was entitled to look for this information….but he now accepts that he didn’t perform due diligence and that he wasn’t entitled to use his access to this information in that way”.
Mr Taylor also alluded to his client’s mental health challenges, “which were set against the backdrop of an acrimonious marital breakup and difficulties with his son” who had “gone off the rails”.
He added: “It’s likely that he’s going to lose his job and the mere fact that he’s been a participant in the criminal justice system has had a salutary effect on him.
“The court may very well ask why, when he had received data protection training in the first place, he has committed these offences, but he’s learned a lesson simply by virtue of the fact that he’s had to go through this process.”
Mr Taylor asked District Judge Michael Ranaghan to “temper justice with mercy” given his “lack of record” and the likelihood “he is going to lose his job”.
Judge Ranaghan, in passing sentence, said: “The aggravating feature in this case is the fact you are a public servant.
“This happened over a protracted period, but I do take into account that initially you thought you were entitled to access the information you did.
“Obviously, the same does not apply with later offences, and I’m aware this could have a very significant impact on you and indeed, your family. I’m also aware that at least part of the offending behaviour did relate to concerns about your son.”
Brett was fined £50 for each offence, totalling £600 and ordered to pay an offenders’ levy of £15.
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