Brothers sold prison secrets, jurors told; Accused of selling jail papers.

Byline: JOANNE BUTCHER

A PRISON officer stole secret papers from a high security jail, a court was told.

Paul Capewell, who worked at HMP Frankland in Durham, is accused of sneaking out confidential documents and passing them to his older brother John.

John then sold the information to national newspapers, it was alleged at Newcastle Crown Court.

Among the documents stolen were some relating to child killer Ian Huntley, who is serving life for murdering Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

An article later appeared in the Daily Mail newspaper headlined "Be nice to Mr Huntley". The newspaper also published a story called "Muslim plot to behead a prison officer", which the prosecution allege, came from documents supplied by Paul, 41, and John, 45.

Senior prison officials described the thefts as a "massive breach of security".

Prosecutor Peter Moulson told the court the thefts only came to light after John Capewell's car was broken into, on September 13 last year.

The thief left the documents, which had come from the prison and had John Capewell's fingerprints on them, scattered over a bridal path in Wallsend, North Tyneside, where they were found by a dog walker.

Further searches of Capewell's home in Horsley View, Wallsend, recovered copies of contracts between the defendant and the News of the World newspaper. Detectives also spoke to a senior News of the World reporter who revealed he was in regular contact with John Capewell.

He claimed Capewell had asked for pounds 40,000 for information about Frankland and its inmates during a meeting at a motorway service station.

Opening the case, Mr Moulson told the jury: "This case concerns the removal of confidential and sensitive documents from a high security prison, HMP Frankland.

"The Crown's case is that the intention of these defendants acting together, although with different roles, was to sell the documents or information contained in them to the national press. Their motive, say the Crown, was financial gain."

Mr Moulson said John Capewell was in a "precarious financial position" and needed the money.

His brother Paul, of Salmon Street, South Shields, had joined the prison service in 1991 and had transferred to Frankland from HMP Brixton in London in 2005.

Paul Capewell denies misconduct in public office. His brother denies aiding and abetting misconduct in public office. The trial continues today.

CAPTION(S):

IN THE DOCK: Prison officer Paul Capewell ON TRIAL: Paul's brother John Capewell