Tabloid reporters 'paid prison officers thousands for stories about Boy George'

 
Boy George: Reporters 'paid thousands to prison guards' for stories about him
Paul Cheston25 February 2015
WEST END FINAL

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Sun and Daily Mirror reporters paid prison officers thousands of pounds for information including details of pop star Boy George’s life behind bars, the Old Bailey head today.

Daily Mirror reporter Graham Brough is alleged to have been involved in the payment of £1,150 to a prison officer for information about Boy George and Jack Tweed, the then-boyfriend of Jane Goody, in 2009 and 2010.

Brough is the first Mirror journalist to stand trial on charges brought by the Operation Elveden inquiry into alleged bribery of public officials.

He is on trial with three Sun journalists facing similar charges involving prison officers and a Met police officer.

These involved alleged stories and tips about the boxer David Haye, England footballer Jack Wilshire, and Jon Venables, one of the killers of toddler James Bulger.

Sun reporter Tom Wells is said to have been involved in 15 payments of nearly £8,000 to Mark Blake, a detention custody officer at Colnbrook immigration centre near Heathrow airport.

Blake provided information about perks given to foreigners held at the centre, which is run by Serco, between 2008 and 2011, the jury was told.

Wells is also alleged to have made five payments totalling £3,500 to another prison officer Richard Trunkfield in 2010.

Trunkfield worked at Woodhill, Buckinghamshire, where Venables was being held after the killer had been recalled to prison for breaches of his licence when he was found to have accessed child porn on the internet.

Wells and Millard were also involved in payments of around £8,000 to another Woodhill prison officer Scott Chapman and his then-partner Lynn Gaffney, the court heard.

Millard is also said to have paid Met police officer Rosemary Collier £700 for details of police procedures in the event of a terrorist attack.

Blake, 42, Brough, 54, Millard, 33, Wells, 34, and the Sun journalist who cannot be named, have all pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. Blake also denies a further charge of misconduct in public office.

The case continues.

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