Bug row officer appears in court

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The ex-police officer at the centre of the row over the bugging of an MP has appeared in court on unrelated charges of leaking information to a newspaper.

Ex-Thames Valley Det Sgt Mark Kearney, 48, from Middleton, Milton Keynes, is charged with eight counts of wilful misconduct in a public office.

Reporter Sally Murrer, of Kensworth, Beds, faces three charges of aiding and abetting misconduct in public office.

It follows allegations that sensitive information was leaked to the media.

Kearney's son Harry, 20, of Waterbeach Barracks, near Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, faces one count of aiding and abetting, counselling and procuring misconduct in a public office.

Private detective Derek Webb, from Harpenden, Hertfordshire, is charged with five offences of aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office.

None of the four defendants entered pleas and the hearing was adjourned until 10 March.

All four were released on bail until the next hearing.

Kearney senior made the headlines as the officer who bugged a meeting between Labour MP Sadiq Khan and his constituent Babar Ahmad.

Ahmad is being held at Woodhill Prison, Milton Keynes, while he fights deportation to the US on charges of raising funds for terror groups.