‘Significant breach’ by NZTA employee
A woman who stole private information from two databases at the NZ Transport Agency has been denied a discharge without conviction.
Nadine Ericsson pursued her application in the Palmerston North District Court yesterday while facing charges of dishonestly accessing a computer system.
The former NZ Transport Agency staff member was part of a commercial team and accessed private details contained in the company’s vehicle and driver licensing databases.
These were obtained after “road rage” incidents and passed to her boyfriend at the time, who was in the King Cobras, and his associates, who in some instances went to the homes of the victims.
The privacy breaches occurred at various times between January 1, 2021, and March 23, 2023, and Ericsson told a report writer many of her colleagues at the Transport Agency engaged in this practice.
She made an application to the court for a discharge without conviction, citing it would have a detrimental impact on her ability to gain future employment and on treatment she was seeking for her mental health.
But Judge Bruce Northwood declined this and said the breach of trust was “just too deep”.
Messages from Ericsson showed it was calculated offending, and she had “rules” in place for accessing the personal information. She had a plan for what to say if approached by her employers, and asked
“It was done with a plan ... and carried out receiving some form of compensation”
Tom Bignall
for “crystal that could go up your nose” in exchange for passing on the details.
Other messages implied violence towards others was a consequence of her disclosures and, despite this, she continued providing the information.
Northwood said the offending caused considerable harm to the public, and the sharing of personal information undermined the Transport Agency’s integrity.
It had a lasting impact on Ericsson’s colleagues who were “shaken” for some time, and he did not accept she had no way out of the offending.
He said the more “credible reason” for the breaches was so she could obtain drugs.
And, although she had made “impressive” efforts towards rehabilitation since her arrest, the offending was widespread and an abuse of authority.
He disagreed a conviction would impede any treatment she was receiving for her mental health, and said any hindrance to future employment was an ordinary consequence.
Defence lawyer Kila Pedder said his client was genuinely remorseful and working hard to unpack “years of trauma”.
She had been in violent relationships and involved with gang members, but had now reconnected with family.
She told a report writer she was intimidated into making bad decisions, but was desperate to work again to prove she could be trusted.
Pedder said she wanted a fresh start, free of drugs and violence.
Police prosecutor Tom Bignall argued against the application and said the “ongoing” offending was significant because it happened in a government organisation.
“It was done with a plan ... and carried out receiving some form of compensation”
He said there was no evidence before the court proving a conviction would halt any medical treatment and future job prospects.
Ericsson was remanded to reappear for sentencing in July.