A senior detective from North Wales Police faces the possibility of imprisonment after being found guilty of unlawfully accessing police records involving a male friend and three women.

Detective Inspector Emma Gardner, aged 46, was convicted at Caernarfon Crown Court for unauthorized computer access in 2022, despite initially denying the allegation.

During the trial, Judge Timothy Petts emphasized the seriousness of the offense to Gardner, cautioning her that while prison was not the sole option, it would heavily weigh on his decision when she is sentenced in September, as reported by North Wales Live.

The court heard that Gardner, a member of North Wales Police since 2000 and having served in various capacities including the Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, had viewed police logs concerning a close male acquaintance.

Prosecutor Andrew Scott detailed that the logs Gardner accessed pertained to a minor complaint and gossip about the man, who had previously been employed as a bouncer during Gardner’s time as a uniformed officer in Rhyl.

One message from Gardner read, “I have my uses.”

Despite the accusations, Gardner maintained that her access to the logs was for legitimate policing purposes and not due to her personal relationship with the man, as she testified during the trial.

Gardner is set to be sentenced in early September.

Following the jury’s decision, Deputy Chief Constable Nigel Harrison remarked, “We respect the jury’s verdict. The officer was suspended during the legal proceedings, and we will now move forward with disciplinary actions post the verdict.”