A JURY trying a Cheshire PC accused of illegally using the force’s computer systems has failed to reach any verdicts.
Mohammed Ahmed denies seven charges of misconduct in public office. But after a two week trial the jury could not agree.
It was claimed at Liverpool Crown Court that while the 26- year-old was based in Northwich, he used the computer to look into details of crimes in his home town of Warrington.
His duties did not include that area and he knew the computer contained highly sensitive information and should only be used as required for police or criminal justice work and that such use would be monitored, claimed Neil Fryman, prosecuting.
His “offending” came to light when the force’s professional standards department audited his access to the computer systems.
“This revealed that between January 2006 and November 2007 he viewed more than 300 records concerning individuals and crimes held on the police data base relating to the Warrington area,” claimed Mr Fryman.
“The prosecution case is that he used the police computer like a personal computer playground where he accessed information whenever he wanted to, irrespective of policing purposes. He used it for his own personal use and that is quite wrong.”
Ahmed, of California Close, Great Sankey, Warrington, told the court that prior to his arrest he had never been told that accessing the information was wrong.
He will now face a re-trial expected to begin on June 22, and has been remanded on bail.
