Officer sent to jail for leaking intelligence

A CORRUPT Sutton copper who escaped being sent to prison, despite admitting leaking top secret intelligence to criminals, was today jailed by the country's senior judge at the Court of Appeal.

The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, said 27-year-old Mark Simon Turner should never have got off with a suspended sentence for such a serious breach of the trust placed in him.

Turner, of Pytman Drive, Walmley, admitted using police computers to download and print out intelligence information, some of which he passed on to criminal friends.

He also admitted another offence of conspiracy to defraud, in which a friend obtained a change of name and a fraudulent bank account from which £1,200 was then withdrawn.

In July, he walked free after being sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court to a suspended 12-month term for the fraud and two counts of misconduct in a public office.

But now he is on his way back to jail after a request from the country's senior law officer, the Attorney General, Baroness Scotland QC, for the 'unduly lenient' sentence to be increased.

Turner, who had served more than three years in the force, was caught red-handed on CCTV footage using computers and printing documents, while simultaneously calling and sending text messages to his friends.

When his and their homes were searched, some of the information which Turner had accessed was found on printed police documentation.

Although he initially denied any wrongdoing, he eventually pleaded guilty to the offences on the basis that no police operation was jeopardised by his actions.

Ordering his return to jail today, Lord Judge said there was 'no justification' for the sentencing judge to suspend the term, even acknowledging the especially hard time police officers often endure in prison.

Turner was given until 1am today (Friday) to report to police and begin his sentence.

The time he had already served in custody on remand was ordered to count against the 12-month term.