England: Crown Court judge in court over computer misuse allegations

Her Honour Judge Karen Jane Holt appeared at Southwark Crown Court this week over allegations she viewed the file for one Cecil McCready in September 2016.

Mr McCready was found guilty of child sex crimes last year.

Judge Holt, 55, is accused of “intending to secure unauthorised access to that programme and data, knowing at the time that such access was unauthorised”, contrary to the Computer Misuse Act 1990.

The Crown’s case turns on whether her access to the digital case system was authorised at the time or not.

A criminal barrister by training with more than two decades’ experience, she was appointed a recorder in 2009.

Counsel for the accused, Patrick Gibbs QC, told presiding judge Mr Justice Davis: “The Crown has… set out the documents which were viewed and the length of time for which they were viewed.”

Philip Evans QC, prosecuting, said the accusations were “not a case of carelessness or stupidity, it is a deliberate attempt to access files”.

The accused was granted unconditional bail, Mr Justice Davis, who said: “Mrs Smith, I have no doubt you have said this to people so it will come as no surprise to you that if you don’t come on 9 July you will be tried in your absence.”

Judge Holt previously sat in judgment of a colleague, former immigration judge Michael Shrimpton in 2014.