A journalist from Watford paid a police officer more than £20,000 during a "long term corrupt relationship".

Anthony France, of Diamond Road, Watford, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office at the Old Bailey today.

France, 41, paid anti-terror officer Timothy Edwards a total of £20,840 for 43 pieces of information, 38 of which resulted in published articles in The Sun newspaper, between March, 31, 2008 and July, 1, 2011.

His mother burst into tears as he left the dock after being found guilty.

France was bailed to appear for sentencing at the Old Bailey on 29 May.

Edwards previously pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office and was sentenced to two years imprisonment on 6 June 2014. A confiscation order of £25,420.82 was also made.

Edwards, 49, was based in the Counter Terrorism Command and from May 2009 he was part of a team based at Heathrow airport.

Telephone evidence revealed regular contact between France and Edwards, starting in January 2009 and continuing until June 2011, when it suddenly stopped.

During this time, Edwards sold, and France paid for, information which included the personal details of victims of crime obtained by illegally searching police databases.

The Metropolitan Police service said Edwards also sold information he picked up through his job at the airport, either by witnessing events or talking to fellow colleagues.

Detective Chief Superintendent Gordon Briggs, who leads Operation Elveden, said: “France and Edwards were in a long term corrupt relationship. Over a three year period France paid Edwards in excess of £20,000 for stories.

“Edwards was not a whistleblower, he obtained confidential information in the course of his duties and leaked it for financial gain.

"Corrupt relationships of this kind undermine confidence in the police service and harm the public interest. Officers found guilty of acting in this way merit criminal sanction.

“Journalists who encourage or aid and abet their corrupt actions and do so without reasonable excuse or justification are equally culpable".