Insurance firm faces court over data breach

Government body has accused the company of hiring private investigators to obtain personal data

Insurance News

By Louie Bacani

An insurance company from West Malling, Kent recently faced the court to answer accusations that it used private detectives to get personal data.
 
Loss adjuster Woodgate & Clark Limited has been slapped with four counts of obtaining or disclosing personal data or information in 2005, regional news website Kent Online reported.
 
Facing the same charges are the firm’s joint managing director Michael Woodgate, technical delivery director Colom Tudball and supposed private investigators Daniel Summers and Adam John Spears, according to the publication.
 
The government’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) brought the charges alleging that the company hired Summers and Spears to obtain personal information. The two are also facing charges of selling data.
 
During a hearing at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, Woodgate, Tudball and the company denied the charges while Summers and Spears refused to enter pleas.
 
“Woodgate & Clark denies all the charges brought by the ICO relating to an isolated event said to have taken place over a decade ago,” Kent Online quoted a company spokesman as saying.
 
The spokesman told the news website that “operating with integrity has always been a core business value” of the insurance firm.
 
“While we are obviously disappointed that the ICO has chosen to proceed with this case, we look forward to defending ourselves and fully expect a positive outcome,” the spokesman said.
 
The accused will again face the court next month after they were released on unconditional bail.
 
 
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