An ex-policeman who was jailed for corruption denied yesterday that he was giving evidence in Prince Harry’s privacy trial for ‘vengeance’.
Jerry Yanover, a witness for Harry, said he heard private detective Gavin Burrows boast of working for the Daily Mail and The Mail On Sunday.
He denied he was lying or that he had been told to make the allegation, or that he had been paid by convicted phone hacker Graham Johnson, a former tabloid journalist who now works as a researcher for the Duke of Sussex‘s legal team.
Mr Burrows is due to give evidence next week. The court has heard his evidence lies at the centre of the most serious allegations against the papers.
Harry is one of seven public figures suing the Daily Mail and the MoS over alleged unlawful information gathering.
Associated Newspapers, which publishes both titles, denies its journalists commissioned private detectives to hack voicemails, intercept calls or ‘blag’ private information.
Mr Yanover, a former constable, set up a private investigation firm while he was on sick leave from his job at the Metropolitan Police, and employed Mr Burrows.
He was later jailed for 27 months for misconduct in public office and believes Mr Burrows was the informant.
Prince Harry departs from the High Court in London on January 20, 2026
Mr Yanover, 58, told the High Court yesterday that he was approached by Mr Johnson about the Burrows allegations, but denied he had been offered money to give evidence.
He added: ‘It’s an opportunity… to get my side of the story out. I have no grudge against Gavin Burrows. But… people should be held to account.’
The trial continues.