Two former police call handlers have been jailed after accessing confidential force computer systems to look up personal details about their criminal partners and share sensitive information.

Ellie-Mae Doherty, 22, from Ripley, was sentenced to 11 months in prison after pleading guilty to misconduct in a public office. Her former colleague Jessica Fitzhugh, 22, from Belper, was jailed for four months after admitting unauthorised access to computer material, following a two-day sentencing hearing at Leicester Crown Court that concluded on Thursday.

The court heard that the two women first met while working together at McDonald's. Fitzhugh joined Derbyshire Constabulary in January 2023 at the age of 19, working as a call handler and then as a dispatcher, before referring Doherty, who joined the force as a call handler in September 2023.

Both women had undergone intense vetting when they joined the organisation. As part of that process, they were required to sign declarations confirming they had no associations or contacts with anyone involved in criminal activities.

Prosecuting counsel Helen Rodger told the court that both women were in sexual relationships with men involved in crime. She explained that these connections were clear disclosable associations that should have been flagged to the force.

Doherty first accessed restricted records and passed details to her partner, Robbie Braddock, in December 2023 — roughly two months after finishing her control room training. In that instance, she shared information regarding a fight where a window had been smashed.

A second incident occurred on 6 March 2024, when Doherty accessed details concerning the execution of a search warrant and passed the information to Braddock. She viewed the file multiple times and checked who was being held in custody at the Ripley suite.

Fitzhugh, who was also in a relationship with a man with a criminal record, searched for incidents on the system in spring 2024. The sentencing judge noted that her searches were driven by what he termed "idle curiosity" rather than passing the material onwards.

Sentencing the pair, the judge told them they had "flaunted the clear training, the clear direction and the clear guidelines" set out by Derbyshire Police. He remarked: "It's impossible to recognise the young women who I read about, with such positive qualities, in the women who committed these offences."

The convictions followed an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) after internal conduct referrals. IOPC representative Emily Barry stressed that call handlers hold sensitive access to confidential systems, adding that both women are likely to be permanently barred from the profession.

Derbyshire Police confirmed that both women have now left the organisation, with Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Michelle Shooter stating they "breached the trust and have faced the consequences of their actions." Internal misconduct hearings are due to take place next, and I'll be following this one — check back for updates.