Herefordshire council worker sentenced for accessing 490 records

Geoffrey Smith, a 31-year-old council worker from Herefordshire, unlawfully accessed approximately 490 personal records over four days, downloading 94 documents that included sensitive information about family members and known individuals. His actions were discovered following internal concerns at Herefordshire Council, leading to an investigation that confirmed the unauthorized access.

On May 27, 2026, Smith pleaded guilty to violating the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and was sentenced to a two-month prison term suspended for 12 months, along with 120 hours of unpaid work and costs totaling £2,154.