The corrupt speed camera operators who deleted records to let their friends get off fines

Two camera operators have been jailed after it was revealed they deleted records of speeding offences to let their mates off.

Samantha Halden-Evans, 36, and Jonathan Hill, 47, were investigated while both worked for Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership. The pair were found to have worked together to commit misconduct in public office between May 2019 and October 2020.

Stafford Crown Court heard how the pair failed to process data and deleted information with the intent of letting drivers avoid speed penalties. Halden-Even was also found to have passed details about whether certain speed cameras were working.

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Halden-Evans, from Cheadle, was charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office and conspiring to pervert the course of justice. After pleading guilty to the charges, she was jailed for four years and two months on Thursday, December 21. Meanwhile, Hill, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, was jailed for 18 months after admitting misconduct in public office in January 2023.

Two others have also been jailed after they admitted conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Wayne Riley, 41, from Cheadle, who was in a relationship with Halden-Evans. was sentenced to two years and eight months. Nikki Baker, 35, from Werrington, Staffs, was sentenced to 10 months.

The conspiracy came to light following a burglary in Cheshire in 2020. Detectives investigated mobile phones and found messages that traced back to Halden-Evans.

She was arrested in February 2021 and a mobile