Police analyst sentenced after illegally accessing intelligence

56-year-old 'succumbed to temptation'

A senior police analyst who accessed intelligence reports about his brother-in-law without permission has been handed a conditional discharge.

It means 56-year-old Peter Michael Devereau, of Selbourne Drive in Douglas, will only be penalised if he goes on to commit another crime.

He was sentenced at Douglas Courthouse yesterday (11 April) after previously admitting accessing computer material without authorisation.

Searches

The performance analyst, who works at Police Headquarters, used a database system to purposefully search for the information on 27 April last year.

Devereau’s position meant the searches he conducted weren’t recorded but the next day he requested a welfare meeting with an inspector where he admitted what he’d done.

He also disclosed he was under pressure due to a longstanding family dispute over an estate.

Devereau’s advocate had highlighted, previously, that his client had accessed the information inadvertently on previous occasions but had gone back again, this time, to view the ‘forbidden fruit’.

In the previous court appearance the advocate had urged magistrates to consider a conditional discharge but the prosecutor on that occasion said this would not ‘send out the right message’.

'Succumbed to temptation'

During Devereau’s sentencing hearing on 11 April his advocate reiterated, to the new magistrates' bench, that Devereau would not have been caught unless he’d handed himself in.

“This offence could not have come to light had Mr Devereau not disclosed it, had he not confessed himself,” he said.

Describing him as an ‘extremely educated individual’, who had previously worked for the MET, he added: “He has succumbed to temptation.”

“He couldn’t live with himself having done this.” – Jim Travers (Advocate)

Conditional Discharge

Urging the new bench to give his client a chance to ‘resurrect his career’ he confirmed Devereau remained suspended from work and disciplinary proceedings with the Isle of Man Constabulary would ‘likely follow’.

Imposing a 12-month conditional discharge Magistrates said Devereau had shown ‘a very high level of honesty’ by reporting himself.

Ordering him to pay £350 in prosecution costs they told him: “You’re free to go, sir.”

Manx Radio has contacted the Isle of Man Constabulary for comment - it has declined to do so.