John Jones trial: Drug and call girl claims denied
Nov 5 2008 by Hilary Clixby, The Journal
A DETECTIVE accused of corruption admitted he had behaved foolishly, but said he had done nothing criminally wrong, a court heard.
John Jones is alleged to have been paid £2,000 a week by gangster Allan Foster to pass on confidential information from the police computer.
But after his arrest, Jones said in a statement he “denied absolutely receiving any money or material benefit as a result of any corrupt relationship with criminals”.
The officer – who was in the Operational Support and Development Unit in the Northumbria Police Crime Operations Department at the time – said Foster had been recruited as a human intelligence source and passed to the National Crime Squad.
“I have not received any sort of benefit as a result of my contact with criminals,” said Jones in a statement read out at Newcastle Crown Court.
“I have never knowingly or intentionally given any information obtained as part of my police activities to any unauthorised person.”
In a further statement read to the court, Jones admitted visiting London with Foster and that they had had a few drinks together and called at a number of shops and bars.
“I accept I foolishly, but innocently, became too friendly with Mr Foster, but I am not in any corrupt relationship,” he said.
Prosecutors allege that on the London visit, Jones took cocaine and tried to have sex with a call girl at a house rented by Foster in Kensington.
But Jones told officers: “I totally deny taking or having anything to do with cocaine. I wasn’t using escorts. It had nothing to do with me.
“That is the only time I have been out socially with Allan Foster. I’ve said it was a mistake. I do regret it.” Jones admitted he had liked Foster and had “got on really well with him” .
But he insisted: “I never received anything off him. I never warned him about anything. All I am saying is, if I have done wrong, it has not been done maliciously”.
Jones, 48, denies three counts of misconduct in public office.
Gym owner Bruce McCall, 42, of Cornelia Terrace, Seaham, County Durham, denies aiding and abetting Jones’s alleged misconduct and class C drug offences.
The trial continues today.
