Two women who used police systems to access information about friends and family have been spared jail.

Jacqueline Wilson, 52, abused her position as a public enquiry assistant at Preston Police Station to keep her friend of 15 years, Jacqueline Goosey, 52, up to date on police matters involving her family.

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Preston Crown Court heard Goosey, of Stratford Drive, Fulwood, was having family problems which involved police getting involved on a number of occasions.

At one stage a family member was a witness in a murder investigation, another time a nephew was reported missing and other family members were arrested over domestic incidents.

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Between April 2017 and July 2018 Goosey asked Wilson to look at police logs on 12 separate occasions.

Wilson, of Maritime Way, Ashton-on-Ribble had access to the police computer system but had been warned she was only permitted to look at logs when there was a legitimate policing purpose.

Each time she logged in to the system a warning screen flashed up to remind users it is an offence to misuse the systems.

But when Wilson’s use of the Police National Computer was audited, the searches were uncovered.

Both women were arrested on suspicion of misuse of systems and were interviewed under caution.

Goosey said: “I just feel so bad. I’ve asked for this stuff and got her into trouble. 

“She’s my friend. She knows everything about me. To me they were just little questions.”

She went on to say she did not realise the information was restricted and just thought she was helping her family out.

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Rachel Woods, defending Wilson, said: “Her motivation was to assist her codefendant and long standing friend who clearly had a complicated family background. She thought she was simply helping a friend.”

She added the women’s snooping did not thwart any investigations.

Judge Andrew Woolman, sentencing, said: “In your case Wilson, you were the one employed by the police and with a duty to look after the information kept by the police. 

“On the other hand you, Goosey, instigated all the enquiries.

“It seems to me these two factors balance each other out.

“I bear in mind the information was not sensitive police information.”

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He handed Wilson a six month sentence and Goosey an eight moth sentence, each suspended for two years.

He also ordered both women to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and ordered them to pay costs.