Charity Worker Sentenced for Sharing Confidential Victim Information
An employee of a sexual abuse charity has been sentenced after unlawfully sharing confidential information about a child victim with a prisoner, who subsequently used the details to intimidate another inmate.
Lauren Leese, 30, was employed at the former Stoke-on-Trent charity Savana, which provided support to survivors of sexual violence and abuse. During her tenure, she obtained sensitive information about a child victim and shared it with Shane Davis, 36, who was incarcerated for rape.
Davis, currently serving a sentence at HMP Dovegate, used the information to threaten and intimidate a fellow prisoner, according to Staffordshire Police.
Both Leese and Davis pleaded guilty to unauthorised access of computer material at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Monday.
Details of the Offence and Sentencing
Staffordshire Police reported that over a six-month period in 2024, Leese accessed and shared sensitive personal information relating to a child victim of serious sexual offences.
Leese, who was working as an independent sexual violence advisor at Savana when arrested in September 2024, received a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.
Davis, who was convicted last year of rape and other sexual offences, was sentenced to 12 months to run concurrently with his existing sentence.
Official Statements and Charity Closure
Detective Inspector Lewis Haigh commented on the case, highlighting the breach of trust:
"She was only supposed to access sensitive and confidential information when necessary to support and advocate for victims of serious crime and instead she passed information to Davis, who was on remand awaiting a trial after being charged with rape offences and who she sustained a relationship with whilst he was in prison."
"Leese had betrayed a 'position of trust' at the charity, letting down victims, her colleagues and the public."
Savana, the charity where Leese was employed, closed in April after nearly 40 years of service, citing financial difficulties as the reason for shutting down the support service.
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