A former housing worker has been found guilty of unlawfully accessing people's personal data.
Wendy Masterson was employed as a customer services officer by Stockport Homes - the company responsible for managing the council’s housing stock.
But it was discovered she spent time looking at anti-social behaviour cases on the firm’s case management system, despite not being authorised to carry out such a check.
She accessed the system a total of 67 times between January and December 2017, magistrates heard.
Masterson's offences came to light during an audit of her activity on the system, after concerns were regarding her performance.
She was suspended from her job and later resigned.
Masterson, of Middlesex Road, Stockport, pleaded guilty to unlawfully accessing personal data in breach of the Data Protection Act at Stockport Magistrates Court.
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She was ordered to pay a £300 fine, as well as £364 costs and a victim surcharge of £30.
Mike Shaw, group manager enforcement at the Information Commissioner’s Office - which brought the prosecution - said: “People have the absolute right to expect that their personal information will be treated with the utmost privacy and in strict accordance with the UK’s data protection laws.
“Our prosecution of this individual should act as a clear warning that we will pursue and take action against those who choose to abuse their position of trust”.
Stockport council said the ICO had its unequivocal backing.
A spokesperson said: “Stockport council fully supports the actions of the ICO.
"We have a zero tolerance approach to incidents such as this, in line with the employee code of conduct.
"Protecting the data we hold is of the highest importance to us and we treat any breach of this kind very seriously."
