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Journalist denies knowing source for Jon Venables stories was prison officer Journalist denies knowing source for Jon Venables stories was prison officer
(43 minutes later)
A former News of the World journalist has denied knowing that a source for stories about Jon Venables was a prison officer.A former News of the World journalist has denied knowing that a source for stories about Jon Venables was a prison officer.
The journalist, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said they did not know the real name, occupation or address of the anonymous tipster who offered information about the James Bulger killer in 2010.The journalist, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said they did not know the real name, occupation or address of the anonymous tipster who offered information about the James Bulger killer in 2010.
The reporter told the Old Bailey they only discovered the source was prison officer Scott Chapman when they were arrested by detectives investigating payments to public officials in 2011.The reporter told the Old Bailey they only discovered the source was prison officer Scott Chapman when they were arrested by detectives investigating payments to public officials in 2011.
The journalist is charged, alongside Tom Savage, 39, deputy news editor of the Daily Star Sunday, with conspiring with Chapman and his former partner, Lynn Gaffney, to commit misconduct in public office. They all deny the charges.The journalist is charged, alongside Tom Savage, 39, deputy news editor of the Daily Star Sunday, with conspiring with Chapman and his former partner, Lynn Gaffney, to commit misconduct in public office. They all deny the charges.
Chapman, 42, is accused of receiving almost £40,000 by selling information about Venables to newspapers including the News of the World, the Sun, the Daily Mirror and the Daily Star over two years.Chapman, 42, is accused of receiving almost £40,000 by selling information about Venables to newspapers including the News of the World, the Sun, the Daily Mirror and the Daily Star over two years.
Giving evidence, the former News of the World journalist said they verified Chapman – who called himself Adam when dealing with the newspaper – by discovering that he had been previously paid by the Sun via his then-partner Gaffney. Giving evidence, the former News of the World journalist said they verified Chapman – who called himself Adam when dealing with the newspaper – by discovering that he had been previously paid by the Sun via his then partner Gaffney.
The court heard that a colleague at the News of the World, who also cannot be named for legal reasons, told the journalist to write a story about Venables after Chapman rang the paper’s newsdesk, posing as Adam.The court heard that a colleague at the News of the World, who also cannot be named for legal reasons, told the journalist to write a story about Venables after Chapman rang the paper’s newsdesk, posing as Adam.
Asked by defence barrister John Butterfield why they were sure of the source’s veracity despite not knowing their occupation, the journalist told jurors: “He had been vetted by the newsdesk, I had seen he was a tried and tested source and that would be enough having been told by my boss to do the story.” The reporter said they were told to do the Venables story by a “ruthless” boss who once refused to give them time off when they were at the hospital bedside of a child.
Butterfield asked: “At any point did you know the true name of Adam?” The reported said: “No I did not.” “He was a very, very tough boss to work for. He was ruthless in his pursuit of exclusives. He was a tyrant in many ways,” the journalist said.
Butterfield went on: “Have you ever seen or heard the name Scott Chapman before your arrest in these proceedings?” The reporter answered: “No I have not.” “He would drive his staff to the point of harassment in hindsight to work to the highest level to bring home the best stories to put before the editor … He was known as a control freak who micromanaged everything.”
Asked by the defence barrister John Butterfield why they were sure of the source’s veracity despite not knowing their occupation, the journalist told jurors: “He had been vetted by the newsdesk, I had seen he was a tried and tested source and that would be enough having been told by my boss to do the story.”
Butterfield asked: “At any point did you know the true name of Adam?” The reporter said: “No, I did not.”
Butterfield went on: “Have you ever seen or heard the name Scott Chapman before your arrest in these proceedings?” The reporter answered: “No, I have not.”
The journalist told jurors of the high-pressure environment at the News of the World. “There’s always the underlying current that you’re only as good as your last story and there’s plenty of reporters out there wanting your job,” they said.The journalist told jurors of the high-pressure environment at the News of the World. “There’s always the underlying current that you’re only as good as your last story and there’s plenty of reporters out there wanting your job,” they said.
The journalist told of getting “the hairdryer treatment” if reporters didn’t reply to emails from bosses within minutes.The journalist told of getting “the hairdryer treatment” if reporters didn’t reply to emails from bosses within minutes.
Asked about picture messages the journalist allegedly received from Chapman with his prison card and a wage slip, the journalist said they could not recall ever receiving them.Asked about picture messages the journalist allegedly received from Chapman with his prison card and a wage slip, the journalist said they could not recall ever receiving them.
The trial continues.The trial continues.