Neil Hopwood, 48, and co-defendant Glyn Ogden, 49, both from Droylsden, were given 26 weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years, 240 hours of community service and ordered to pay é420 costs each.
They pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office with Hopwood also pleading guilty to misconduct in public office.
Judge Adrian Lyon at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard how, between 2003 and 2006, Hopwood, who worked at Leigh Custody Unit, supplied Ogden, his sister-in-lawés partner and owner of a private investigation company, with home addresses he had asked for.
He did this by making vehicle checks on the police national computer and the information led to the intimidation of a company director, who had won a court case over an unpaid debt, and a man suspected of having an affair.
His carés tyres were slashed and a funeral wreath was placed on its bonnet.
Prosecutor Alaric Bassano said Hopwood was "fully aware" he was not permitted to disclose the information and knew that he had abused his position.
The pair were arrested on 19 June last year when suspicions arose over Hopwoodés use of restricted systems.
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I assume that the Hopwood has been sacked from the Police Force and that he has lost his service pension.
Yet more double standards ?
hello hello hello,wots all this then the police finally getting found guilty DID he lose his job?if so the private dick can search for another eh
It wouldnt suprise me if he is still in the job and eligible for his pension .
which barrister represented them ....let me know they must have been very good cos they should have gone to prison
Police officers are human too, the Devil has it within his power to temp and ruin anybody.
To be fair before anyone condems the whole of the police force nay the whole of mankind, they should look deeply into their own unclean minds remembering the lord god made us each and all in his own image.
Where are the double standards? He was arrested,charged and appeared before the court of the land and from then it's out of police hands.As for his pension- get into your thick skull that police pensions are not a golden handshake but something that he'd have paid 11% of his salary to get. Now he's been sacked it will be frozen until he's of retirement age.
i think the police officer was a disgrace to his uniform,a prison sentance should have been given as he knew he was breaking the law passing confidential information and helping a man intimidate people.
Unbelievable. This cop should have gone to prison not got a suspended. Amazing that a court can jail a granny for not paying her council tax but neglects to punish (and make an example of...) this person !
I am a Police officer. Yes he is a disgraced officer with a criminal conviction, he is also someone with family, and little chance of offending. This is all taking into account by the courts. He deserved to be arrested convicted and he has lost his job too, which every officer i know would agree should happen. Remember though that his stupidity and misplaced loyalty to his family cost him a lot.
they carnt be trusted none of em,this is like spying putting folk in great danger and guess what another biased court lets em go,why,what the hells going on? mary biffwax what planet are you living on?there is and never was a god thaty wasnt man made,
What were they thinking of-Care in the Community? we have politicians for that sort of stuff.
he should have gone down!What an insult to justice.
He knew the risks he was taking and he was prepared to cause trouble for his family. If he doesn't care, why should we?
I am a police officer. I think that Neil has been foolish, deserves to loose his job and has been given a sentence which is deserved.
The sentence does reflect the offence.
Prison is a last resort and I can assure you that this will be the last time Neil stands in the dock so is that not justice succeeding?
This is a deterant to all officers and no one would want to go through what Neil has.
Stupid man,
So much for "If you've got nothing to hide, you've got nothing to fear". Imagine an ID card database being abused by people like this!!!
There are some very bitter and twisted police haters responding to this story.
He was rightly found guilty, rightly lost his job and salary and is rightly professionally ruined. Now you want him in prison and to lose his pension.
I think for his crime he has been severely punished. I suppose some of your readers think the gallows would be the right punishment for all police officers who break the law no matter what the offence.
I remember 20 odd years back a bloke telling me about a plain clothed copper turning up on his doorstep after having entered this blokes licence number into the PNC after his father in law had been sold something legally at a car boot sale, and wanted his money back. I told this bloke then that I wished I had been there, I'd have reported this copper for misuse of police equipment and intimidation. But then again, I'd have probably been arrested myself for affray or some other trumped up charge.
Dear Ged,
Please allow me to help you spell my surname correctly it is; BIPHWACHS not BIFFWAX.
Finally Ged if there is and never were a God who created the natural world,the seas,the sun,the wind, the stars?