Two ex-RAC staff received suspended sentences for stealing and selling information while working at the call centre in Stretford.

Maliha Islam and Debbie Okparavero were customer service specialists at the call centre on Thomas Street around six years ago.

According to the Information Commissioner's Office, Islam, from Manchester, and Okparavero, from Salford, were stealing and selling information relating to incidents to a third party.

They were reported to the Information Commissioner's Office thanks to the installation of security software.

On October 8, after admitting offences under the Computer Misuse Act and the Data Protection Act, they received suspended sentences of six months suspended for a year and a half at Crown Court.

Islam, of Kingsway, and Okparavero, of King Edward Street, are to do 150 hours of unpaid work apiece and there is a Proceeds of Crime court case to come for the ex-RAC staff on March 5, 2025.

Andy Curry, the Head of Investigations at the Information Commissioner's Office, said: "Accessing people's personal information when there is not a need to do so is against the law. To take steps to profit from other people's personal information is appalling. We will always take action to protect the public from this type of behaviour.

“We would like to thank the RAC for their action in bringing this breach to our attention enabling us to ensure justice was served."

The RAC is no longer at the call centre in Stretford after the announcement of a move to the call centre in Salford Quays last year.

The Messenger has asked the RAC for a comment. 

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.