London police officer guilty of misconduct

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LONDON, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- A senior London police officer faces a prison term following her conviction Thursday for offering to sell information to a tabloid newspaper.

A judge postponed sentencing for April Casburn, 53, The Daily Telegraph reported. The judge in Southwark Crown Court, Mr. Justice Adrian Fulford, warned her that she is likely to get some time behind bars.

Casburn, a detective chief inspector with the Metropolitan Police, was assigned to counter-terrorism when she offered to sell the News of the World information on the phone-hacking investigation in 2010. The Sunday tabloid, closed by Rupert Murdoch in the wake of the scandal, was one of the major targets.

During her trial, Casburn said she was angry that detectives from counter-terrorism were being assigned to the investigation. She said many officers wanted the assignment because they hoped to meet celebrities.

The jury decided, however, that her motive was money.

Casburn has three children, including a daughter adopted in 2011. Fulford said he wants to hear from a social worker before deciding on the appropriate sentence.

Casburn could receive a life term for misconduct in public office.