09/05/2013

Former Police Officer Jailed For Selling Stories

A former police officer has been jailed for 10 months after selling a story to The Sun newspaper.

According to the BBC, Brighton-based James Bowes contacted the publication, as well as the News of the World, on three separate occasions, offering to sell information.

In June 2010, he sold a story to The Sun about a fox attack on a three-year-old at a birthday party. He received £500 from the paper.

It is also understood he tried to sell information about Princess Tiaamii, the daughter of Peter Andre and Katie Price.

At the sentence hearing, the Old Bailey heard how the former sergeant emailed the News of the World's newsdesk in April 2010, where he gave details about an investigation into the celebrity couple. Their daughter had received a slight injury.

The investigation by child protection specialists showed that nothing untoward had happened.

Bowes did not receive any money for the story and he asked for anonymity at the time over fears he could be prosecuted and lose his job.

The other time Bowes offered information, was related to an investigation into serial killer Peter Tobin. He claimed he had details about a clairvoyant member of the public who had contacted police to say there were bodies buried in Brighton.

The officer had pleaded guilty to the charges.

He is the fourth police officer imprisoned after prosecutions under the Met Police's Operation Elveden. It is investigating inappropriate payments from journalists to public officials.

(JP/CD)

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