Accused PC may be tried in Preston.

A NORTH Wales police officer charged with two counts of corruption is expected to be tried out of the area, probably at Preston Crown Court.

The case of PC DavidGardner of Llanrwst Road, Colwyn Bay, was mentioned in his absence at Mold Crown Court yesterday.

Judge Huw Daniel said he agreed with written submissions from the defence that the case should be tried out of the Chester and North Wales Circuit and said that the case would be referred to the senior presiding judge for consent for it to go to another court.

``I express the view that it is not desirable for this case to be tried in North Wales,'' he said.

Both the prosecution and the defence suggested that Preston would be suitable. Gardner is charged with selling to a national newspaper a police photograph of the child killer Howard Hughes, and other information. He is accused of corruptly obtaining pounds 5,000 from representatives of the former Today newspaper.

It is alleged he handed over a photograph of Hughes taken while he was in police custody and copies of confidential police and Clwyd social services reports on Hughes.

The two offences allegedly occurred between July 1995 and July 1996.

Gardner is currently on bail on condition that he does not approach key witnesses, two journalists and a Nicola Daffern.

Seven year-old Sophie Hook was murdered in the summer of 1995 after she had been snatched from a tent in her uncle's back garden at Llandudno andHughes is serving three life sentences.