A prison worker who illegally accessed the records of two of the UK's most notorious killers has been jailed. The employee, who worked at HMP Birmingham, searched the files of Lucy Letby, the neonatal nurse convicted of murdering seven babies, and Rose West, the serial killer who helped murder young women alongside her husband Fred West.
Details of the Offence
The worker, named as 31-year-old Daniel Gee, admitted accessing the records without authorisation. He was employed as an administrative officer at the prison and used his position to view sensitive data on the high-profile inmates. The offences took place between October 2022 and February 2023.
Gee was arrested following an investigation by the Prison Service's counter-corruption unit. He pleaded guilty to two counts of unauthorised access to computer material under the Computer Misuse Act.
Sentencing and Impact
At Birmingham Crown Court, Gee was sentenced to eight months in prison. The judge described his actions as a “serious breach of trust” that could have compromised prison security and the safety of staff and inmates.
According to the prosecution, Gee had no legitimate reason to access the records. The data included personal details and security classifications of the prisoners. The Crown Prosecution Service said the breach was “a clear abuse of position” and that such behaviour would not be tolerated.
Prison Service Response
A spokesperson for HM Prison and Probation Service said: “This individual betrayed the trust placed in him and has rightly been held accountable. We have robust systems in place to detect and investigate any misuse of data, and we will take action against anyone who breaks the rules.”
The case highlights the importance of data security within the prison system, especially concerning high-risk offenders. The Prison Service confirmed that additional safeguards have been implemented to prevent similar incidents.
Broader Context
Lucy Letby is serving a whole-life order for the murders of seven infants and the attempted murder of six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Rose West is serving a whole-life sentence for her role in the murders of 10 young women between 1973 and 1987. Both are held in high-security prisons.
The incident at HMP Birmingham is not the first of its kind; in 2019, a prison officer was jailed for accessing records of a terrorist inmate. The latest case has prompted calls for tighter controls on access to prisoner data.
