Former Brighton police sergeant faces jail for selling stories to The Sun

A former Brighton police sergeant faces a prison sentence after he admitted selling information to The Sun newspaper.

James Bowes, 30, a former member of the Brighton and Hove Neighbourhood Policing Team, pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office at the Central Criminal Court this morning (Friday 26 April).

He was remanded on bail until Thursday 9 May when he will be sentenced at the London court, which is better known as the Old Bailey.

Bowes, of King’s Stone Avenue, Steyning, sold information about three high-profile investigations to The Sun for £500 while he was working for Sussex Police.

The offences took place between Friday 9 April and Tuesday 20 July 2010.

He was arrested as part of Operation Elveden, the Metropolitan Police investigation into corrupt payments to police and other public officials.

In February Detective Chief Inspector April Casburn, a counter-terrorism officer with the Met, was jailed for 15 months for offering information to the News of the World.

Like Bowes, she was arrested as part of Operation Elveden.

Deputy Chief Constable Giles York said: “Sussex Police expects the highest personal and professional standards of anyone who works for us and any allegations of behaviour which does not meet those standards will be rigorously investigated.

“On being made aware of the investigation into James Bowes in August 2012, Sussex Police immediately suspended him and following an internal disciplinary hearing the following month he was dismissed for gross misconduct.”