AN ESSEX policeman sacked after leaking information to the media about the "Plebgate" row involving Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell has said he would do it all again and has no regrets.
James Glanville was sacked from the Metropolitan Police after he leaked information to the Sun newspaper about the incident at Downing Street in September 2012 to which he had not been a witness.
Following the High Court ruling last week that former chief whip Mr Mitchell did call Pc Toby Rowland a "pleb", Mr Glanville has told the Sun he does not regret his intervention.
"I'd do it all again tomorrow," the former constable said. "I have no regrets about coming forward. I thought the public deserved to know how someone that senior in the Government behaved."
Mr Glanville said he had thought it likely no one would take action over the incident, which he heard about a few hours after it happened, so he contacted the newspaper.
Three other officers lost their jobs in the aftermath.
Pc Keith Wallis was jailed and dismissed for emailing his MP pretending to have witnessed the confrontation.
Pc Susan Johnson lost her job after she exchanged text messages and a phone call with Mr Glanville around the time he contacted the tabloid, and for failing to report that Wallis had sent her a copy of his email.
Pc Gillian Weatherley, who was on duty on the day of the confrontation between Mr Mitchell and Mr Rowland, was sacked over leaks to the press. She sent a photograph of an email Mr Rowland had sent to his bosses about the row to Mr Glanville.
Mr Glanville, who now works as a car salesman in Essex, has told the Sun he was sorry Ms Weatherley was dismissed, insisting she had no idea he had been in contact with the press.
Last week Mr Justice Mitting reached the "firm conclusion" that the 58-year-old MP used the "politically toxic" word in Downing Street when he was not allowed to cycle through the main vehicle gates.
Mr Mitchell, who resigned as a whip a month after the altercation, denied during his two-week libel action against News Group Newspapers (NGN) that he had said: "Best you learn your f****** place - you don't run this f****** government - you're f****** plebs."
He said he would never call a policeman a pleb, "let alone a f****** pleb", although he agreed he muttered under his breath "I thought you lot were supposed to f****** help us" - but not directed at the officer.
Mr Mitchell, who faces a hefty legal bill, said he was "bitterly disappointed" with the ruling.
Mr Glanville also hit out at the Met Police, saying they should have supported their officers over the incident.
In a statement, Scotland Yard said: "Mr Glanville was dismissed from the MPS without notice, as it was found that he had breached standards of professional behaviour in relation to honesty and integrity; confidentiality; orders and instructions; duties and responsibilities; and discreditable conduct, this included providing inaccurate statements to the investigation team.
"There was no attempt to 'cover up' anything on the part of the MPS.
"Both Mr Mitchell and Pc Rowland had agreed the matter to be concluded shortly after it happened."
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