The Sun's Whitehall editor today denied knowing she was committing a crime by paying an HMRC source for stories.

Clodagh Hartley told the Old Bailey: "I would not have risked going to prison for stories in The Sun."

The 40-year-old (pictured, Reuters) is accused of arranging payments of £17,475 to senior press officer Jonathan Hall over a period spanning more than three years, in exchange for tips.