[2025] EWHC 2684 (KB)

DC Deacon retired from Norfolk Constabulary in 2017. At the material time relevant to this claim he was working within the computer crime unit (also known as the Hi Tech Crime Unit). He attended at Cawston Park on 14^th November 2006 and was involved in the imaging of two computers. Subsequently he was asked to copy the material onto a hard drive for DLA Piper. DC Deacon explained That following the initial copying there was a major server transfer within the unit and when he was asked to provide a copy there was no exact digital fingerprint on three of the files. Of the material seized 0.32% had lost its guaranteed authenticity and 0.11% had been lost altogether. The material in question all related to material seized from the home of Dr Simon Barker. Although it was pleaded that the loss of this material was due to malice, this allegation was not pursued.

In cross examination DC Deacon stated that he did not remember Ms Gaisford or being told anything about Mark Deveney’s computer. He stated that he was not looking for anyone's computer in particular and had never heard that name before.