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Sun reporter checked police payment with bosses, court hears Sun reporter checked police payment with bosses, court hears
(about 4 hours later)
A Sun journalist accused of unlawfully agreeing to pay a police officer to leak information got approval from his bosses for the transaction, a jury has heard.A Sun journalist accused of unlawfully agreeing to pay a police officer to leak information got approval from his bosses for the transaction, a jury has heard.
Vince Soodin said on Monday that “none of his line managers warned him” that paying a police officer “was wrong” when he recommended payment of £750 for information about a toddler bitten by a fox on 19 June 2010.Vince Soodin said on Monday that “none of his line managers warned him” that paying a police officer “was wrong” when he recommended payment of £750 for information about a toddler bitten by a fox on 19 June 2010.
Soodin is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office by paying Sussex police sergeant James Bowes £500 for story tips. He denies the charge.Soodin is on trial at the Old Bailey accused of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office by paying Sussex police sergeant James Bowes £500 for story tips. He denies the charge.
He is the first journalist to be in court as a result of Scotland Yard’s Operation Elveden, the investigation into alleged payments to public officials by newspapers.He is the first journalist to be in court as a result of Scotland Yard’s Operation Elveden, the investigation into alleged payments to public officials by newspapers.
Soodin has previously told the jury at the Old Bailey how he had been sifting through hundreds of emails sent to the Sun’s news desk on the Saturday when he spotted one from a “tipster” who called himself “Mike” about the incident.Soodin has previously told the jury at the Old Bailey how he had been sifting through hundreds of emails sent to the Sun’s news desk on the Saturday when he spotted one from a “tipster” who called himself “Mike” about the incident.
Giving evidence for the second day, Soodin told how he sent “Mike” a “stock reply” telling him the Sun would pay for exclusive tips.Giving evidence for the second day, Soodin told how he sent “Mike” a “stock reply” telling him the Sun would pay for exclusive tips.
There was enough information in the email to corroborate the story, Soodin said. “[It had] the school, area the incident took place, the time, [I was] pretty much able to call the police or council. I also called the RSPCA and they also stood the story up,” he added.There was enough information in the email to corroborate the story, Soodin said. “[It had] the school, area the incident took place, the time, [I was] pretty much able to call the police or council. I also called the RSPCA and they also stood the story up,” he added.
The story appeared in the paper the following Monday but without the boy’s name.The story appeared in the paper the following Monday but without the boy’s name.
In his email to the Sun, the officer had said he wanted to remain anonymous, and Soodin passed this on to his bosses, telling them in a memo the story had come from “a tipster Mike, policeman who wants to remain anonymous”.In his email to the Sun, the officer had said he wanted to remain anonymous, and Soodin passed this on to his bosses, telling them in a memo the story had come from “a tipster Mike, policeman who wants to remain anonymous”.
When the paper went to follow up the story, “Mike” went on to identify the three-year-old boy’s family name and the name of the person who had hired the school for the children’s party at which the boy was attacked, Soodin said.When the paper went to follow up the story, “Mike” went on to identify the three-year-old boy’s family name and the name of the person who had hired the school for the children’s party at which the boy was attacked, Soodin said.
On 23 June Soodin received an email from “Mike” requesting details about payment. “Vince I can’t remember how we left things the last time we spoke. You said something about my bank details,” he wrote.On 23 June Soodin received an email from “Mike” requesting details about payment. “Vince I can’t remember how we left things the last time we spoke. You said something about my bank details,” he wrote.
Soodin told the jury that at some point during a phone conversation between 19 June and 23 June Mike had revealed his real name was James and that he learned his surname after he emailed information about payment.Soodin told the jury that at some point during a phone conversation between 19 June and 23 June Mike had revealed his real name was James and that he learned his surname after he emailed information about payment.
Soodin recommended to his bosses that he be paid £750 for this and for information relating to another story about the serial killer Peter Tobin.Soodin recommended to his bosses that he be paid £750 for this and for information relating to another story about the serial killer Peter Tobin.
He was far down the pecking order at the Sun and was just not fully accustomed to how much to pay tipsters. If the editor was deemed to be number one in the hierarchy, he and other reporters were on the 12th rung of that ladder, he said.He was far down the pecking order at the Sun and was just not fully accustomed to how much to pay tipsters. If the editor was deemed to be number one in the hierarchy, he and other reporters were on the 12th rung of that ladder, he said.
The news desk knocked the payment down to £500, Soodin confirmed in examination by his counsel, William Harbage QC.The news desk knocked the payment down to £500, Soodin confirmed in examination by his counsel, William Harbage QC.
Asked by Harbage if he “checked with superiors if payments should be made” he responded: “Yes, I did.” He said he spoke to two news desk editors who he put at “level 7” in the hierarchy at the Sun.Asked by Harbage if he “checked with superiors if payments should be made” he responded: “Yes, I did.” He said he spoke to two news desk editors who he put at “level 7” in the hierarchy at the Sun.
Harbage asked: “Did you mention the fact your tipster was a police officer?”Harbage asked: “Did you mention the fact your tipster was a police officer?”
Soodin replied: “I think I did, yes.”Soodin replied: “I think I did, yes.”
Harbage said: “Did anybody say anything about that?”Harbage said: “Did anybody say anything about that?”
“No,” Soodin replied.“No,” Soodin replied.
Weeks later Soodin was given some information by Bowes about a clairvoyant who had phoned the police about a dream she had about a planned excavation of two houses were the murderer Tobin had lived.Weeks later Soodin was given some information by Bowes about a clairvoyant who had phoned the police about a dream she had about a planned excavation of two houses were the murderer Tobin had lived.
The story did not make the paper.The story did not make the paper.
Soodin said he had no further contact with Tobin until December 2010 when the policeman contacted him to reporter that one of his superiors was using a website called Grindr. Soodin said he had no further contact with Bowes until December 2010 when the policeman contacted him to reporter that one of his superiors was using a website called Grindr.
“Mr Bowes was suggesting the inspector may not have been acting professionally by using Grindr at work.“Mr Bowes was suggesting the inspector may not have been acting professionally by using Grindr at work.
“He wanted me to follow up to see if we could check Grindr to see if he was compromising his position and then publish a story but it just wasn’t a story,” said Soodin.“He wanted me to follow up to see if we could check Grindr to see if he was compromising his position and then publish a story but it just wasn’t a story,” said Soodin.
There was no further contact with Bowes.There was no further contact with Bowes.
Soodin denies colluding with the policeman to cause an offence of committing misconduct in public office.Soodin denies colluding with the policeman to cause an offence of committing misconduct in public office.
The case continues.The case continues.