Thu, 16 Jul 2015
Anthony France, 41, was found guilty of aiding and abetting a police officer to commit misconduct. He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for 2 years and 200 hours unpaid work.
Judge Pontius awarded prosecutions costs of £34,618, but had to cut this to a 10th of the figure as France’s employer, News International, refused to pay.
Two days before the deadline, Adrian Keeling QC, representing France, told the Old Bailey: "The hope was that NI, who had funded his legal representation, would stand behind him and pay those costs on his behalf. It would have sent a very strong message that they were doing the right thing, especially for an organisation that earns the kind of money they do."
Judge Pontius reduced the costs to just £3,461 to be paid by 28 August, saying: "It remains a matter of considerable disappointment to me that NI will not pay the costs of the prosecution in bringing him to court."
In mitigation at the sentencing of Mr France, Adrian Keeling said "There is a sense it is Mr France, who held the most junior full-time position at The Sun, that stands to be punished for the whole system."
Please click here to read an article by BBC News.
Please click here to view Adrian Keeling QC’s profile.
