Lucy Panton: Police 'champagne' email was just NotW 'banter'

The former crime editor of the News of the World (NotW) has denied that the newspaper used champagne to get inside information about a terrorist plot from former Metropolitan police assistant commissioner John Yates.

Lucy Panton, who worked at the Sunday tabloid until its closure last July, said an email sent from newsdesk colleague James Mellor telling her to "call in all those bottles of champagne" was just "banter".

The Leveson inquiry heard during Yates' evidence in March that the internal NotW email in October 2010, which related to an aviation bomb plot story, included the line: "John Yates could be crucial here. Have you spoken to him? Really need an exclusive splash line so time to call in all those bottles of champagne..."

Panton told the inquiry today: "He was putting pressure on me to get a story. It was banter mixed with a bit of pressure. There were no bottles of champagne."

In her witness statement, Panton added: "I have found it rather bizarre that there seems to be such interest in what champagne I did or did not drink.

"I believe that a distorted picture has been presented of how journalists carry out their business. We do not live a champagne lifestyle and the reality of the day to day grind of journalism is far from glamorous."

She added: "I am a journalist and therefore my objective is to seek information but not to the detriment of a police operation.

"I have never met a senior officer who is so ill-informed and naive that he or she gives out information that they were not authorised to divulge.

"My objective was to have a long term relationship with the police which meant an open and honest relationship with the people I met."

Yates, who was a guest at Panton's wedding to a Scotland Yard detective, has told the inquiry he "may well" have drunk champagne with Panton, but denied he did her any favours in return. 

Panton was also asked about being allowed by Metropolitan police communications chief Dick Fedorcio to use his office computer and personal email account to file a story about controversial former police commander Ali Dizaei, who was jailed for corruption in 2010. 

She told the inquiry: "On this occasion, journalist instinct took over and I did what it took to get the newsdesk off my back."

She added: "I don't think the News of the World was in a special position with the police."

On the newsroom culture at the NotW, Panton added: "I don't feel I was bullied by the editors. We were all put under a lot of pressure. You were expected as a specialist to bring in exclusive stories in your field. It's part of the job."

She said she was disappointed to hear from crime reporter colleagues that "the lines of communication have closed" with the police recently.

She added: "It makes me very sad to hear that. I loved my job and I thought we played an important role. I would hate to see crime reporting over and police feeling they can't have professional relationships with journalists."

Panton was arrested in December on suspicion of making corrupt payments to police officers, as part of Operation Elveden. She is on police bail and has not been charged.

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