A statement, released by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) late yesterday, reveals Daniel Short left previous employer VetPro Recruitment in October 2017 to set up on his own as VetSelect.

According to the ICO’s statement, once it became aware of Short’s new agency, VetPro began to have concerns about the integrity of the database it used to recruit vets and nurses, which contained the personal data of more than 16,000 people.

The Exminster-based agency subsequently contacted Short to ask if he had downloaded any of the information from the database, with Short admitting he had taken some personal data, claiming it was for his own record of achievement.

The case was reported to the ICO with ICO investigators finding that Short had stolen the details of 272 individuals from VetPro’s database for commercial gain.

Short, of Barnstaple Cross, Crediton, Devon, pleaded guilty to unlawfully obtaining personal data under section 55 of the Data Protection Act 1998 when he appeared at Exeter Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 17 May. He was fined £355 and was ordered to pay costs of £700, as well as a victim surcharge of £35.

When contacted by Recruiter yesterday, Short, now a commercial recruitment consultant at gap Personnel, said there was no “commercial gain” involved whatsoever, adding this was made extremely clear throughout the case, and there was never any intention to “steal” anything.

Recruiter also contacted VetPro, who said they would not be commenting further.

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