A BANK clerk from Burnley illegally spied on his former partner’s accounts after the duo split up, a court heard.

Nearly 60 inquiries had been made by Yasir Manzoor into his ex-girlfriend’s current and savings accounts while he worked for Lloyds Bank, Burnley magistrates were told.

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Aaminah Khan, prosecuting on behalf of the Information Commissioner’s Office, said the bank had a policy where employees were not allowed to examine the bank accounts of family members or friends.

The victim, who was not named, had made a complaint to the bank after her suspicions were aroused regarding access to her bank details, with some “unusual transactions” noted on her statement.

Manzoor was employed as a bank teller by Lloyds at the time and he was later questioned by officials from the ICO. It had been found he made 39 separate queries on her current account, between March and August 2013, and 19, over a similar period, for her savings account.

Bank officials could find no legitimate business reason for him accessing the accounts and he confessed that he was aware of the family-and-friends policy enforced by his employers, the court heard.

The prosecutor said: “Due to the fact that he was employed by the bank, it may be felt there was a breach of trust. There is also an obvious invasion of privacy by the defendant in accessing these bank accounts.”

Manzoor, 25, of Queens Road, Queensgate, Burnley, admitted six offences of knowingly, without the consent of the data controller, obtaining personal data.

He was fined £250 and ordered to pay a £25 victim surcharge.

The prosecution was brought under the Data Protection Act.

Waseem Chowdhary, defending, said: “He could offer no explanation and he was most regretful over the fact that he had conducted this procedure.”

The defendant had made immediate admissions when questioned about the offences, the court heard.

He remained a carer for his father, who suffered from a number of difficulties.

Manzoor had now secured new work as a sales assistant.