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Detective April Casburn: NoW cash claim 'ludicrous' Detective April Casburn: NoW cash claim 'ludicrous'
(about 1 hour later)
An ex-counter-terrorism detective has told a court it was "ludicrous" to suggest she offered information to the News of the World for money.An ex-counter-terrorism detective has told a court it was "ludicrous" to suggest she offered information to the News of the World for money.
Det Chief Insp April Casburn is accused over Operation Varec, which considered whether Scotland Yard's inquiry into phone hacking should be reopened. Det Chief Insp April Casburn said she spoke to the paper because she was angry resources were being moved from her unit to investigate phone hacking.
But she did not ask for money and was probably misheard by the NoW journalist, she said in a statement. Male colleagues saw that inquiry as a "jolly" and a chance to meet celebrity hacking victim Sienna Miller, she said.
Ms Casburn denies one charge of misconduct in public office.Ms Casburn denies one charge of misconduct in public office.
The charge relates to 11 September 2010 when Ms Casburn, 53, from Hatfield Peverel, Essex, was working in counter-terrorism, managing the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit.The charge relates to 11 September 2010 when Ms Casburn, 53, from Hatfield Peverel, Essex, was working in counter-terrorism, managing the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit.
Southwark Crown Court heard that one of her team was asked to carry out financial investigations as part of a Scotland Yard inquiry into phone hacking. Southwark Crown Court heard that one of her team was asked to carry out financial investigations as part of a Scotland Yard inquiry into phone hacking, Operation Varec.
'Regret decision''Regret decision'
It is alleged Ms Casburn rang the NoW's news desk at 07.51 BST to offer information in exchange for payment.It is alleged Ms Casburn rang the NoW's news desk at 07.51 BST to offer information in exchange for payment.
She gave the names of two of the people under investigation during the conversation, it is said.She gave the names of two of the people under investigation during the conversation, it is said.
Appearing in court, Ms Casburn said: "I regret the decision."Appearing in court, Ms Casburn said: "I regret the decision."
Asked by Patrick Gibbs QC, for Ms Casburn, about whether she offered to sell inside information during her conversation with the NoW, she said: "No. I find the whole sentence ludicrous."Asked by Patrick Gibbs QC, for Ms Casburn, about whether she offered to sell inside information during her conversation with the NoW, she said: "No. I find the whole sentence ludicrous."
In a written statement to the court, she said she did not need the money as both she and her partner were well paid, with substantial savings. Ms Casburn went on: "I felt very strongly that we shouldn't be doing hacking. Our function was to prevent terrorist attacks and I was particularly worried that the behaviour of my colleagues was such that they thought it was a bit of a jolly.
She also said her phone conversation had taken place on a busy road so her words could possibly have been misheard by the NoW journalist.
Addressing the court, Ms Casburn described how in 2010 she had been dealing with an acrimonious divorce and experienced a failed IVF procedure with her new partner.
That same year, one of her team was assigned to hacking without her knowledge, but she only discovered this later - after her charge, the court heard.
'Bit of a jolly'
Ms Casburn said: "I felt very strongly that we shouldn't be doing hacking. Our function was to prevent terrorist attacks and I was particularly worried that the behaviour of my colleagues was such that they thought it was a bit of a jolly.
"They thought it was all going to be a bit of fun, getting to travel, getting to see famous people."They thought it was all going to be a bit of fun, getting to travel, getting to see famous people.
"I felt sufficiently strongly we should not be diverting resources which are to do with saving people's lives. It made me really angry," she added."I felt sufficiently strongly we should not be diverting resources which are to do with saving people's lives. It made me really angry," she added.
Ms Casburn contacted the NoW on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on New York because of her frustration about this and it was "maybe the only option", the court was told. Frustration about this prompted Ms Casburn to contact the NoW on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on New York, the court was told.
She felt she could not speak out against the phone-hacking investigation plans, which had been re-opened by the then assistant commissioner John Yates, the court heard. She said she felt she could not speak out against the phone-hacking investigation plans, which had been re-opened by the then assistant commissioner John Yates.
'Denied a desk''Denied a desk'
"I didn't believe I could make any difference to the decision-making around using counter-terrorist assets for the phone-hacking inquiry," said Ms Casburn."I didn't believe I could make any difference to the decision-making around using counter-terrorist assets for the phone-hacking inquiry," said Ms Casburn.
Describing the "very male-dominated" atmosphere at her unit, Ms Casburn likened it to the TV series Life On Mars in the 21st century. Describing the "very male-dominated" atmosphere at her unit, Ms Casburn likened it to the TV series Life On Mars.
Some male colleagues had frozen her out, playing golf together, and she was "denied a desk despite being a chief inspector," the court was told.Some male colleagues had frozen her out, playing golf together, and she was "denied a desk despite being a chief inspector," the court was told.
Earlier, the court heard from Det Supt Dean Hayden who was the detective in charge of the 2010 hacking probe Operation Varec. She said she failed to give a coherent statement about the NoW phone call at the time of her arrest because she was under stress - in 2010 she was dealing with an acrimonious divorce and a failed IVF procedure with her new partner.
Ms Casburn broke down in tears as she told the jury she feared losing her child once she was arrested. In a statement given to the court on Tuesday, she denied offering information to the NoW for money, explaining she did not need the money as both she and her partner were well paid, with substantial savings.
She also said she failed to give a coherent statement about the NoW phone call when she was arrested because she was under so much stress. Earlier, the court also heard from Det Supt Dean Hayden who was the detective in charge of the 2010 hacking probe Operation Varec.
Scotland Yard launched Varec after a New York Times expose of phone hacking at tabloid papers, the court was told. The trial was adjourned until Wednesday.
The trial was adjourned until Thursday.