18/01/03 - Jilted lover tells
of PC's Sophie case `confession'
Daily Post Liverpool
A NORTH Wales policeman boasted to his lover that he
sold a photograph of Sophie Hook's killer to the press,
a court heard yesterday.
During an affair, PC David Gardner told Nicola Daffern
he leaked the custody photograph of Howard Hughes for
£10,000. Preston Crown Court was told Ms Daffern
asked Gardner ``if there was anything in work he should
not have done''.
Ms Daffern said: ``He said that he had sold a photograph
to a newspaper of the man accused of murdering Sophie
Hook.''
She said they were having a cigarette in a hotel bathroom
at the time. Gardner, 34, stayed with Ms Daffern at
the Travel Inn in Cannock, Staffordshire, on two occasions
in February 2000, including Valentine's night. Ms Daffern
said: ``He said he met a reporter at the Great Orme
in Llandudno in a cafeteria. ``It was round about the
time of the investigation - he didn't give an exact
date. ``He said he needed the money as he had recently
split up with his wife.'' The affair started before
Christmas 1999 and the mother-of-two left her partner
and hoped to marry Gardner, the jury was told.
Gardner, of Llanrwst Road, Colwyn Bay, denies two charges
of corruptly receiving £5,000 for handing over a
confidential police report to the press, and receiving
another quantity of cash in return for the photograph.
Ms Daffern said Gardner told her his brother, Geoffrey
Gardner, had set up the meeting with the journalist.
Geoffrey Gardner, a detective sergeant during the murder
investigation, was manager of the major incident room
and the liaison officer between the Hook family and
North Wales Police. Jennifer Kershaw QC, prosecuting,
asked Ms Daffern what her response was to Gardner's
confession. Ms Daffern said: ``I just replied to him
it was naughty and that was the only comment I made.
``He agreed, but said he wanted the money.''
Tim Holroyde QC, defending, told the jury Ms Daffern
was lying because Gardner left her and had lied to her.
He said: ``You wanted him to leave his partner and marry
you and you were very upset when it fell apart.''
Mr Holroyde told the court Ms Daffern had written letters
to Gardner saying ``he was everything'' to her, she
had ``never loved anyone as much'' as she loved him,
and she ``couldn't survive'' if she wasn't with him.
Mr Holroyde said: ``It is because of this anger that
you are bringing a false allegation about him.'' Ms
Daffern said it was not.
Mr Holroyde continued: `` He never said anything about
selling a photograph to the newspapers.'' Ms Daffern replied:
``Yes he did.'' The trial continues. |
