Temporary Sergeant Daniel Hughes, 40, was a hero on the force and a villain off it, bruv. The 20-year veteran, who clocked up serious injuries while serving Merseyside Police, had a secret life that put him in the company of some seriously dodgy characters 😞. Hughes not only mixed with criminals using EncroChat but went on holidays and hit racecourses with them.
Laura Barbour, prosecuting at Manchester Crown Court, laid it out: Hughes exploited police databases to run unauthorised searches on several individuals involved in serious crime. He accessed intelligence reports and shared snippets of info with a WhatsApp group 📱. No financial gain, but still a massive no-no.
Judge Alan Conrad KC summed it up: "You became far too close to these people. Your actions undermine public confidence in the police and their systems." Hughes got a 12-month suspended sentence, 250 hours of unpaid work, and a £750 fine. His police career? Done for good.
Olivia Travis from the CPS added: "Hughes was a corrupt officer who abused his position to access sensitive info. He ignored training and showed no regard for trust or integrity."