Ex-UK police officer jailed over leaks to tabloid

[May 09, 2013]  LONDON (AP) -- A former British police sergeant has been sentenced to 10 months in jail for trying to sell details about a celebrity couple's daughter and other confidential information to The Sun newspaper.

James Bowers was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty to misconduct in public office. Prosecutors said he passed information about three incidents -- one involving the 2-year-old daughter of model Katie Price and singer Peter Andre -- to the Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid.

The 30-year-old was arrested as part of Operation Elveden, an investigation into police corruption.

The inquiry is running alongside investigations into phone and computer hacking sparked by revelations that reporters at Murdoch's now-shuttered News of the World tabloid regularly intercepted voicemails.

About 20 people have been charged in the scandal, including journalists, police officers and former Murdoch executives.

[Associated Press]

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