A former South Wales Police employee has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison for leaking confidential information to her boyfriend, a known drug dealer, including intelligence on his criminal associates.
Lucy Langmead, 44, from Tonteg, Rhondda Cynon Taf, was found to have repeatedly accessed secure police databases for personal reasons over a 21-month period, from May 2020 to March 2022, according to BBC.
The investigation revealed she used her position to obtain sensitive information about members of the public, her ex-partner's new girlfriend, and even details from the high-profile Logan Mwangi murder case. Langmead's unauthorized data searches escalated after she began a relationship with 37-year-old Daniel Cozens, who was actively involved in the supply of class C drugs.
Between May 2021 and February 2022, she passed along internal police intelligence to Cozens, allowing him to keep tabs on law enforcement's knowledge of his associates and evade detection. According to Cardiff Crown Court, Langmead's actions disrupted at least one police operation, leading a suspect to dispose of class A drugs after catching wind of an ongoing investigation.
Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke described the case as a "serious breach of trust" and said Langmead's actions had caused real harm to the integrity of policing. Though there was no financial payoff, the judge noted both Langmead and Cozens benefited socially within their circles by leveraging inside knowledge.
Langmead, who had worked for the police since 2005, resigned in light of the probe. She pleaded guilty to 13 charges of unauthorized access to computer material, five counts of unlawfully disclosing personal data, and one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. She is currently pregnant and considered high risk; she will serve half her sentence in custody and the remainder on license.
Cozens, who also admitted to drug-related charges and conspiracy, received a sentence of one year and eight months.
Originally published on Lawyer Herald
