Detective Inspector Emma Gardner, 46, has been convicted of illegally accessing police records to pass information to Simon Acton, a man she had a sexual relationship with on two occasions. Gardner, who joined North Wales Police in 2000, accessed police computer files over a nine-month period in 2022.
Gardner maintained that all her accesses were for legitimate policing purposes and that she remained impartial in any dealings with Acton. She testified that she met Acton when he was a bouncer and she was a uniformed officer. The pair became Facebook friends and had two sexual encounters, though Gardner described their relationship as platonic and stated they had not seen each other since December 2019.
According to prosecutor Andrew Scott, Acton contacted Gardner approximately two years after their last meeting, seeking advice about a relationship he described as 'controlling' and claiming unfair treatment by the police. The information Gardner accessed pertained to a "relatively minor complaint" and "tittle-tattle" involving Acton and three women.
Despite Gardner's defense, a jury at Caernarfon Crown Court rejected her claims, finding her guilty of unauthorized access. Evidence presented during the trial included a message from Gardner to Acton stating, "I have my uses." When questioned about the appropriateness of a police officer becoming involved in an investigation concerning a close acquaintance, Gardner replied affirmatively, adding that she believed she had remained impartial.
Judge Timothy Petts acknowledged the unusual nature of the case, involving a senior serving officer as a defendant. He indicated that custody would be a primary consideration when sentencing Gardner, which is scheduled for early September.
Following the verdict, Deputy Chief Constable Nigel Harrison of North Wales Police stated that the officer had been suspended during the criminal proceedings and that misconduct proceedings would now commence.