A Taunton-based man has been convicted for unlawfully obtaining and disclosing personal data in breach of the Data Protection Act, following a prosecution by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Luke Coleman, who was employed by Virgin Media O2, sold confidential customer data to a family friend, Nicholas Harper, for use in a boiler room fraud. Harper had previously pleaded guilty to assisting an offence under the Data Protection Act but was acquitted of conspiracy to defraud by a jury.

The fraud contributed to a wider crypto scam in which Raymondip Bedi and Patrick Mavanga were sentenced to a combined 12 years in prison for defrauding at least 65 investors of £1,541,799.

Coleman was suspended by his employer pending the outcome of the criminal investigation. He was fined £384, ordered to pay a £38 surcharge and a £500 contribution towards prosecution costs, the maximum penalty for this type of offence.

Steve Smart, executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said: “Coleman abused his position of trust and enabled others to commit crimes which led to huge financial and emotional consequences for victims. This is our first prosecution under the Data Protection Act. Going forward, those who enable crime should be clear that we will use all of our powers to hold them to account."

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