A police detective inspector in North Wales could face jail time after being found guilty of illegally accessing police logs concerning a close male friend.
Detective Inspector Emma Gardner, 46, of North Wales Police, was convicted by a jury of unauthorized access to computer material in 2022. She had passed information obtained from police logs to a man who had previously worked as a bouncer. The court heard that Gardner and the man had become Facebook friends and had a sexual relationship.
During the trial at Caernarfon Crown Court, prosecutor Andrew Scott stated that Gardner accessed logs related to a minor complaint and general gossip that uniformed officers were handling. In one message presented to the court, Gardner stated, "I have my uses." She maintained that her access to the logs was for policing purposes and not influenced by her personal relationship with the man.
Judge Timothy Petts emphasized the seriousness of such offenses by serving officers, warning Gardner that custody would be a primary consideration during sentencing. "These sorts of offences by serving officers are treated very seriously. I am not saying custody is the only option, but it's going to be uppermost in my mind," the judge stated.
Gardner, who joined the police force in 2000 and served in various roles including with the Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, was bailed on Wednesday, July 8, pending a pre-sentence report. She is scheduled to be sentenced in early September. North Wales Police confirmed that Gardner, who had been suspended during the criminal proceedings, will now face misconduct proceedings following the verdict.