Private Detectives Face Fines for Blagging Information for Clients Including Brighton and Hove City Council
6:29pm Wednesday 20th November 2013 – The Argus
Private investigators who tricked GP surgeries, utility companies and TV Licensing into handing out personal information have been found guilty of breaking data laws.
Barry Spencer, 41, and Adrian Stanton, 40, were convicted of conspiring to unlawfully obtain personal data at Isleworth Crown Court, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said.
ICU Investigations Ltd was used by clients including Brighton and Hove to trace customers who owed them money.
There is no evidence that any of the company’s clients knew that they were using illegal tactics.
Another five members of staff from their company ICU Investigations Ltd – Robert Sparling, 38, Joel Jones, 43, Michael Sparling, 41, Neil Sturton, 43, and Lee Humphreys, 41, had already admitted the same offence, and all seven now face sentencing on January 24.
The company itself was also found guilty of breaching data laws.
Nearly 2,000 offences were committed between April 1 2009 and May 12 2010.