This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20949111
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Detective April Casburn: NoW cash claim 'ludicrous' | Detective April Casburn: NoW cash claim 'ludicrous' |
| (35 minutes 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 is accused over Operation Varec, which considered whether Scotland Yard's inquiry into phone hacking should be reopened. |
| But she did not ask for money and was probably misheard by the NoW journalist, she said in a statement. | But she did not ask for money and was probably misheard by the NoW journalist, she said in a statement. |
| 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. |
| '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." | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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' | '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. | 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. | 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. |
| 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 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. |
| '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 in the 21st century. |
| 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. | Earlier, the court heard from Det Supt Dean Hayden who was the detective in charge of the 2010 hacking probe Operation Varec. |
| Ms Casburn broke down in tears as she told the jury she feared losing her child once she was arrested. | |
| 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. | |
| Scotland Yard launched Varec after a New York Times expose of phone hacking at tabloid papers, the court was told. | 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 Thursday. |