FORMER Surrey Police officer Alan Tierney, 40, yesterday admitted selling information to the Sun newspaper.
Tierney pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to two offences of misconduct in a public office.
Another former police officer, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and ex-prison worker Richard Trunkfield, 31, also pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office. A fourth person, a public official, also admitted conspiring to commit misconduct in public office.
Tierney and Trunkfield had been charged as part of the Met Police’s Operation Elveden into corrupt payments. Tierney was released on bail and will be sentenced on 27 March.
Ex-News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks also appeared at the Old Bailey yesterday. Her case was adjourned to another date.
John Kay, the Sun’s chief reporter, also appeared at the Old Bailey. In a separate case, Cameron’s former Head of Communication, Andy Coulson, and Clive Goodman, ex-royal correspondent for the News of the World, also appeared at the Old Bailey. Their cases were adjourned.
It also emerged that Rupert Murdoch had a secret meeting on Wednesday with many of the senior Sun editorial executives and journalists facing allegations of payments to police and public officials for stories.
Murdoch had dinner on Tuesday at his London flat with UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who said yesterday that Murdoch wanted to find out what UKIP is up to. Farage is said to have suggested to Murdoch that he would form an electoral pact with the Tories if Cameron stood down as leader.
On Twitter, Murdoch drew parallels between the UK and Italy after visiting Europe this week.
The News Corp boss tweeted: ‘Politics both places very fluid, economies going nowhere. New leaders emerging on distant horizon. Stagnant Europe wracked by discontent and resentment of EU. Glad we contributed to UK resisting the euro over many years. Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, few excellent, frustrated ministers. Farage reflecting opinion.’