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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/may/22/sun-reporter-anthony-france-guilty-paying-police-officer
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Sun crime reporter found guilty of paying police officer for stories | Sun crime reporter found guilty of paying police officer for stories |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Sun crime reporter has been found guilty of paying an anti-terrorism police officer more than £22,000 for story tips relating to Heathrow airport. | A Sun crime reporter has been found guilty of paying an anti-terrorism police officer more than £22,000 for story tips relating to Heathrow airport. |
| Anthony France, 41, cultivated a corrupt relationship with PC Timothy Edwards over four years, the jury at the Old Bailey heard. | Anthony France, 41, cultivated a corrupt relationship with PC Timothy Edwards over four years, the jury at the Old Bailey heard. |
| France’s mother burst into tears as he left the dock on Friday after being found guilty of aiding and abetting Edwards to commit misconduct in a public office between March 2008 and July 2011. He will be sentenced on 29 May. | France’s mother burst into tears as he left the dock on Friday after being found guilty of aiding and abetting Edwards to commit misconduct in a public office between March 2008 and July 2011. He will be sentenced on 29 May. |
| Before adjourning for sentencing, Judge Timothy Pontius said: “I emphasise very firmly that the fact I’m releasing you on bail should not serve as any sort of indication of what the sentence will be.” | Before adjourning for sentencing, Judge Timothy Pontius said: “I emphasise very firmly that the fact I’m releasing you on bail should not serve as any sort of indication of what the sentence will be.” |
| The judge said he would “keep an open mind” until he heard representations from France’s lawyer. | The judge said he would “keep an open mind” until he heard representations from France’s lawyer. |
| While working at Heathrow in SO15 counter-terrorism command, Edwards sold 38 stories and titbits of information to the journalist. These included details of a British Airways engineer caught in heels and a bodice walking a makeshift catwalk and the name of a drunk pilot arrested at the airport. | While working at Heathrow in SO15 counter-terrorism command, Edwards sold 38 stories and titbits of information to the journalist. These included details of a British Airways engineer caught in heels and a bodice walking a makeshift catwalk and the name of a drunk pilot arrested at the airport. |
| France, who joined the Sun in 2004, was charged under Operation Elveden, a Metropolitan police investigation into alleged corruption between the press and public officials. | France, who joined the Sun in 2004, was charged under Operation Elveden, a Metropolitan police investigation into alleged corruption between the press and public officials. |
| He was the first journalist to stand trial for paying a public official since the director of public prosecutions announced a root-and-branch review of the controversial operation. The review, and the decision to ditch nine out of 12 remaining cases, came after the court of appeal quashed the conviction of ex-News of the World crime reporter Lucy Panton and gave fellow NotW reporter Ryan Sabey leave to appeal. They had been the only others to be found guilty following a trial. | He was the first journalist to stand trial for paying a public official since the director of public prosecutions announced a root-and-branch review of the controversial operation. The review, and the decision to ditch nine out of 12 remaining cases, came after the court of appeal quashed the conviction of ex-News of the World crime reporter Lucy Panton and gave fellow NotW reporter Ryan Sabey leave to appeal. They had been the only others to be found guilty following a trial. |
| Giving evidence, France, from Watford, Hertfordshire, told the court he was “given” Edwards as a source and told by a colleague: “I’ve spoken to a lawyer and it’s fine.” He said he had never been advised by anyone at the Sun that speaking to a police officer – or any public official – might be against the law and that he would never have got involved with paying Edwards for stories if he knew it was illegal. | Giving evidence, France, from Watford, Hertfordshire, told the court he was “given” Edwards as a source and told by a colleague: “I’ve spoken to a lawyer and it’s fine.” He said he had never been advised by anyone at the Sun that speaking to a police officer – or any public official – might be against the law and that he would never have got involved with paying Edwards for stories if he knew it was illegal. |
| “I would have told him to get lost,” said France. “I’m a man of good character not involved in crime.” | “I would have told him to get lost,” said France. “I’m a man of good character not involved in crime.” |
| After the verdict, DCS Gordon Briggs, who leads Operation Elveden, said: “France and Edwards were in a long-term corrupt relationship. Edwards was not a whistleblower. He obtained confidential information in the course of his duties and leaked it for financial gain. | |
| “Corrupt relationships of this kind undermine confidence in the police service and harm the public interest.” | “Corrupt relationships of this kind undermine confidence in the police service and harm the public interest.” |