A 48-year-old Indian origin police officer in the United Kingdom got away from a jail term after he was handed a three-month suspended sentence for the misuse of his work computer.
Ajit Singh of Leicestershire Police was found guilty of one count of computer misuse between 2002 and 2018 at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. Subsequently, he was also ordered to pay 300 pounds in legal costs and 115 pounds victim surcharge.
Singh, who currently on sick leave from Leicestershire Police, will face a misconduct inquiry and disciplinary action by the police force over his illegal searches, which included looking up information on English football star David Beckham and wife Victoria Beckham.
Detective Inspector Julian Lester, from the force’s Professional Standards Department, said:
This behavior isn’t acceptable and won’t be tolerated by the force. Now the criminal proceedings have concluded, disciplinary action will be considered.
To access the police databases while working at Mansfield House police station in the heart of Leicester, Singh reportedly made unauthorized uses of his computer. Almost all of the searches were related to his family and a plot of land he owns, while two concerned the Beckhams.
However, the exact nature of the computer searches and his need for making them were not disclosed in court.
Singh’s legal representative Alexander Barbour told the court that there was no intention to harm others and there was no harm to others. He also said that his client had made no financial gain as a result of the illegal searches.
The prison sentence imposed on Ajit Singh is suspended for 12 months, meaning he would not have to serve time except if he breaks the strict conditions of good behavior for that period.
