Daniel Hughes, a former Merseyside Police sergeant, was sentenced this week at Manchester Crown Court after maintaining inappropriate relationships with known criminals, leading to his dismissal and a suspended prison term. The 40-year-old, who had been injured twice in the line of duty, was convicted of eight counts of unauthorized access to computer material and three counts of disclosing personal data without consent.
Career marred by associations
Hughes, who served since 2006, was described as an exemplary officer, but his downfall came from his friendships with individuals involved in large-scale drug plots and credit card fraud. He socialized with them, planned holidays, and made unauthorized searches on police systems, although prosecutors found he did not profit financially or pass on information.
His lawyer, Chloe Fordham, told the court that Hughes was "an extremely dedicated police officer" and that the job was "a huge part of his identity and self-worth." The court heard he suffered PTSD after being stabbed in 2016 and was injured again in 2019, yet returned to work.
Unauthorized searches and data breaches
Between 2016 and 2021, Hughes conducted unauthorized searches on criminals including Steven Noone, Phillip Lam, Anthony Harrison, and Frederick Connolly. He shared "gossipy" messages in private WhatsApp groups and even asked a CPS prosecutor to guess the amount of Noone's confiscation order, revealing it was "just over a mill."
Judge Alan Conrad KC said Hughes was "a diligent, industrious police officer who displayed courage in the line of duty," but his relationships put him in a position where conflict could arise. Hughes was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, with 10 rehabilitation days, 250 hours of unpaid work, and a £750 fine.
Force 'damaged' by actions
Detective Chief Superintendent Sabi Kaur said the force had been "damaged by the actions of a single individual." Olivia Travis from the CPS said Hughes was "a corrupt police officer who abused his position to access sensitive information."
Hughes, who has the offer of a job as a delivery driver, will now seek to rebuild his life, but his conviction and dismissal from the force will forever taint his reputation.
