Former Surrey officer pleads guilty in Elveden case

A former Surrey Police officer has pleaded guilty to two counts of misconduct in a public office after admitting selling information to a newspaper.

Alan Tierney, 40, appeared at the Old Bailey last week, admitting he passed information to The Sun newspaper regarding Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood and the mother of Chelsea footballer John Terry in exchange for cash. He is the first to admit guilt in a prosecution stemming from the Elveden investigations and it follows the conviction of Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Detective Chief Inspector April Casburn in January.

A spokesperson for Surrey Police, which dismissed Mr Tierney in July 2012 after referring the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), said: “Surrey Police has supported the Operation Elveden investigation and has had officers working within the Metropolitan Police’s team to assist with this case.

“The force is committed to dealing with any incidents of corruption and will not hesitate to take quick and decisive action if there is evidence that any officer is involved in conduct of this type.”

The case of Mr Tierney, who has been released on bail and will be sentenced on March 27, is one of seven plea and management cases before the court relating to Operation Elveden and its sister investigation into phone hacking, Operation Weeting.

The cases against Andy Coulson, Prime Minister David Cameron’s ex-director of communications, Clive Goodman, former royal correspondent for the News of the World, and Rebekah Brooks, former editor of The Sun and now-defunct News of the World, have been adjourned. John Kay, ex-chief reporter for The Sun, pleaded not guilty to one offence of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.

In addition to Mr Tierney’s plea, 31-year-old Richard Trunkfield, a former prison worker in Buckinghamshire, admitted to giving information on a high-profile prisoner to The Sun for £3,350. He will be sentenced in April.