A former car insurance worker who divulged hundreds of his customers' private details to so-called 'claims farmers' has been spared jail. Rizwan Manjra was convicted in December 2024 of securing unauthorised access to personal information on his work computer systems for his own financial gain.
Employment and Offence
He was employed by Markerstudy Insurance Services Limited, based in Manchester city centre, leading a team that processed accident claims. At Manchester Crown Court, Manjra, from Bolton, was jailed for six months, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work. Manjra previously pleaded guilty to unauthorised access to computer material.
Confiscation Order
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has since said it has secured a £355,880 confiscation order against Manjra. The ICO said the order was granted at a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Manchester Crown Court on May 15. In a statement, the body said: 'This followed Manjra's 2024 guilty plea to an offence under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 of causing a computer to perform a function with intent to secure unauthorised access to personal information.'
The ICO pursued confiscation under POCA to ensure that people who profit from the unlawful use of personal information do not retain the benefits from their criminal activity. 'The order reflects the financial advantage the defendant gained through the illegal access and onward sale of personal information.'
Payment Terms and Consequences
The ICO said the confiscation order must be paid by Manjra within three months. Should he fail to pay, he will face a default prison sentence of three years and six months - and still be liable for the full amount, the organisation has said. Andy Curry, ICO Head of Investigations, said: 'This case sends a clear message: we will use all means available to us to make sure criminals face severe consequences for their actions.'
'When people misuse personal information for their own benefit, we will not only prosecute them - we will also take action to strip them of any financial gain. People have a right to expect that their information is handled lawfully and responsibly. We will continue to use all the powers available to us to protect that fundamental legal right.'
