Prison officer charged with taking money from The Sun for info about high-profile prisoner

A former prison officer has been charged with committing misconduct in public office over allegations he was paid £3,350 by The Sun to reveal information about a high-profile prisoner.

Richard Trunkfield, an ex-prison operational support officer at HMP Woodhill, is accused of receiving the payment between 2 March 2010 and 30 April 2010.

He was arrested by officers from the Met’s Operation Elveden investigation into allegations of illegal payments to police and public officials, which is overseen by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The charging file was handed to the police on 4 January.

Alison Levitt, QC, the principal legal advisor to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), said: “The charge relates to an allegation that Mr Trunkfield provided details to the newspaper about a high profile prisoner.

"All of these matters were considered carefully in accordance with the DPP's guidelines on the public interest in cases affecting the media.

"These guidelines require prosecutors to consider whether the public interest served by the conduct in question outweighs the overall criminality before bringing criminal proceedings.

"Accordingly, we have authorised the institution of proceedings and Mr Trunkfield will appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on a date to be determined.

"May I remind all concerned that proceedings for a criminal offence involving Mr Trunkfield will now be commenced and that he has a right to a fair trial. It is very important that nothing is said, or reported, which could prejudice that trial. For these reasons it would be inappropriate for me to comment further."

On 7 February a former police constable was charged with misconduct in public office over allegations that he sold information to The Sun.

Alan Tierney, who was with Surrey Police, was allegedly paid £1,750 for giving details of two cases that were linked to high-profile individuals