Ex-Sussex Policeman Jailed For Misconduct

A former Sussex Police sergeant has been jailed for 10 months for trying to sell a story about celebrity Katie Price's daughter to the News of the World.

James Bowes, from West Sussex, contacted the now defunct Sunday tabloid newspaper and told a journalist that police child protection officers had gone to the home of Price's former husband Peter Andre in Brighton.

This followed a report that the couple's daughter, Princess Tiaamii, then aged two, had been injured in 2010, the Old Bailey heard.

The team found no untoward injuries to the child and the matter was not taken further, the court was told.

But Bowes, who worked in Brighton for Sussex Police, emailed the newspaper asking for money for the information.

The story was printed with information from another source and Bowes was never paid.

The 30-year-old from Steyning pleaded guilty last month to misconduct in public office.

The court heard that he passed information to the Sun newspaper about a child who was bitten by a fox and was paid £500.

And he passed on details of a psychic who had contacted police about a search for bodies in two former Brighton homes in 2010 of serial killer Peter Tobin, but was not paid.

Bowes was charged by officers from Operation Elveden, the Metropolitan Police investigation into police corruption.