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Ex-PC and prison worker jailed for Sun information sale Ex-PC and prison worker jailed for Sun information sale
(35 minutes later)
A former prison worker and an ex-policeman have been jailed for selling information to the Sun newspaper.A former prison worker and an ex-policeman have been jailed for selling information to the Sun newspaper.
Richard Trunkfield, who worked at Woodhill prison near Milton Keynes, was jailed for 16 months for passing on details about one of James Bulger's killers, Jon Venables. Richard Trunkfield, 31, who worked at Woodhill prison near Milton Keynes, was jailed for 16 months for passing on details about one of James Bulger's killers, Jon Venables.
Ex-Surrey PC Alan Tierney, 40, received 10 months for selling details about two cases linked to high-profile people.Ex-Surrey PC Alan Tierney, 40, received 10 months for selling details about two cases linked to high-profile people.
Both men had admitted misconduct in public office at an earlier hearing.Both men had admitted misconduct in public office at an earlier hearing.
They were charged as part of the Operation Elveden inquiry into corrupt payments made by journalists to public officials, in return for information.
'Corrosive effect'
Mr Justice Fulford, who passed sentence on the men in separate hearings at the Old Bailey, said: "This country has long prided itself on the integrity of its public officials and cynical acts of betrayal of that high standard have a profoundly corrosive effect."Mr Justice Fulford, who passed sentence on the men in separate hearings at the Old Bailey, said: "This country has long prided itself on the integrity of its public officials and cynical acts of betrayal of that high standard have a profoundly corrosive effect."
The court heard that Trunkfield has since resigned from Woodhill prison and Venables is no longer being held there. Trunkfield had earlier pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office between 2 March and 30 April 2010.
The Old Bailey heard that he was struggling with debt at the time he sold the information, and had cared for his mother while she was suffering from cancer in 2008 and 2009.
Legal restrictions meant it could not initially be reported that the prisoner involved was Venables, however Trunkfield - from Moulton, Northamptonshire - has since resigned from Woodhill prison and Venables is no longer being held there.‪
Venables and his accomplice, Robert Thompson, were 10 years old when they abducted two-year-old James in Bootle, Merseyside, in February 1993 before torturing and murdering him.
He served seven years of a life sentence for the 1993 murder before he was freed on licence in June 2001, aged 18.
He was later jailed for two years in July 2010 after admitting downloading and distributing indecent images of children.
'Disgraceful' behaviour'Disgraceful' behaviour
Tierney, of Hayling Island, Hampshire, admitted two counts of misconduct, dating back to 2009, earlier this month.Tierney, of Hayling Island, Hampshire, admitted two counts of misconduct, dating back to 2009, earlier this month.
Mr Justice Fulford said Tierney's offences had been "a disgraceful way for a police officer to act".Mr Justice Fulford said Tierney's offences had been "a disgraceful way for a police officer to act".
Tierney was charged as part of the Operation Elveden inquiry into corrupt payments made by journalists to public officials, in return for information. The former PC sold details about Sue Terry and Sue Poole, the mother and mother-in-law of former England football captain John Terry, who were arrested on suspicion of shoplifting in Surrey.
He passed on details about two stories, the first of which was about the mother of Chelsea captain John Terry, after she had been cautioned for shoplifting. Tierney also sold details about the arrest of guitarist Ronnie Wood, 65, on suspicion of beating up his Russian lover Ekaterina Ivanova, who is in her 20s.
The other was about Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, who was cautioned for assault after an incident with his then girlfriend. Terry, Poole and Wood all accepted cautions over the various matters and the Tierney received £1,250 for the information.
Tierney's defence team, addressing the hearing, said he had "suffered a collapse of his mental health" since his arrest and had tried to commit suicide.Tierney's defence team, addressing the hearing, said he had "suffered a collapse of his mental health" since his arrest and had tried to commit suicide.
The court was told Tierney had lost his wife, family and reputation.The court was told Tierney had lost his wife, family and reputation.
The judge said it was "wholly against the public interest for those who hold public office cynically to profit out of the misery or unfortunate circumstances of those for whom they are responsible".The judge said it was "wholly against the public interest for those who hold public office cynically to profit out of the misery or unfortunate circumstances of those for whom they are responsible".
The court was told Tierney had sold the name and address of a witness to the Wood incident.The court was told Tierney had sold the name and address of a witness to the Wood incident.
"The most serious aspect of the two offences is that, in relation to count two, the defendant provided the name and, most significantly, the address of the witness," said Mr Justice Fulford."The most serious aspect of the two offences is that, in relation to count two, the defendant provided the name and, most significantly, the address of the witness," said Mr Justice Fulford.
Second officer jailedSecond officer jailed
The judge went on: "The fact that the individual coincidentally tried to sell the story to another newspaper is neither here nor there in terms of what this defendant had in mind.The judge went on: "The fact that the individual coincidentally tried to sell the story to another newspaper is neither here nor there in terms of what this defendant had in mind.
"Put bluntly, it could easily have led to that witness withdrawing all co-operation as regards being a witness.""Put bluntly, it could easily have led to that witness withdrawing all co-operation as regards being a witness."
Tierney is the second police officer to be convicted under Operation Elveden, following the case of ex-counter-terrorism detective April Casburn.Tierney is the second police officer to be convicted under Operation Elveden, following the case of ex-counter-terrorism detective April Casburn.
She was jailed for 15 months for offering to sell information to the News of the World newspaper after the inquiry into hacking by the tabloid reopened in 2010.She was jailed for 15 months for offering to sell information to the News of the World newspaper after the inquiry into hacking by the tabloid reopened in 2010.
The operation is being run alongside Scotland Yard's Operation Weeting, which is looking into phone hacking.The operation is being run alongside Scotland Yard's Operation Weeting, which is looking into phone hacking.