Sentencing of former PC Hammerton and former PC Vickers

Two former police officers have been given suspended prison sentences after being convicted of several criminal charges. 

Evidence presented to Nottingham Crown Court showed that between December 2018 and October 2020, both Joshua Hammerton and Laura Vickers used their position to enable and access information held in police records when they were not authorised and there was no professional reason to do so.

Hammerton, 28, accessed police records relating to himself and to previous and current partners.  Vickers, 37, shared information and her password with Hammerton which allowed him to see incidents and information that he otherwise would not have been able to see.

Today, Hammerton, who had pleaded guilty to three charges, received a custodial sentence of eight months, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, pay £1500 costs, and was subject to a 9pm-6am electronic curfew.

Vickers, who was found guilty by a jury of two charges, was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work, pay £2000 costs and given 34 RAR  (Rehabilitation Activity Requirement) days.

Deputy Chief Constable Julia Debenham, of Lincolnshire Police, said: “It is a great privilege to hold the office of Constable and it is beyond disappointing when that privilege is breached.  I have no doubt that Joshua Hammerton’s actions, in accessing information about his ex-partners, were for nefarious reasons.

“By providing Hammerton with her password, Laura Vickers knowingly allowed him to access restricted information, she also viewed information she was not entitled to see.

“Every police officer and member of staff in the organisation must be accountable for their actions and has a personal responsibility to keep any information safe. 

“I’d like to thank those who have been involved in this case, without which we would not have been able to complete our investigation.  In all cases, but particularly when it involves the criminality of police officers, it takes great courage and personal strength to share information to allow an effective investigation and prosecution.”

• Hammerton pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two counts of unauthorised access to computer material and one count of misconduct in public office.  The first charge relates to accessing information between 1 December 2018 and 24 October 2020 and the second charge accessing information between 1 October 2020 and 24 October 2020.  The offence of misconduct in public office covers the period between 1 December 2018 and 24 October 2020.
• Vickers was found guilty at Nottinghamshire Crown Court in July 23 to two counts of misconduct in public office.  Both counts relate to the period between 1 December 2018 and 24 October 2020.