A former police officer who leaked information from the investigation into the murder of Milly Dowler has been jailed for 18 months.

Simon Quinn, 43, from Horsham, West Sussex, committed misconduct in a public office for more than a decade, including leaking information about Milly Dowler’s case.

While an officer with Surrey Police, he received payments of at least £7,000 for information he unlawfully supplied to national newspapers, between November 1, 2000, and January 30, 2011. He resigned from the force in 2011.

Detective Chief Superintendent Gordon Briggs, the officer in charge of Operation Elveden, said: “Quinn is the ninth police officer, and the 27th public official, to have been convicted for passing confidential information acquired in the course of their duties to journalists for financial gain.

“Trust and confidence in the police service is undermined when police officers behave in this way and the public interest is harmed. Their dishonest actions merit criminal convictions.

“It is the role of a police officer to serve and protect. Leaking sensitive and confidential information is an abuse of the trust the public hold in us. Victims of crime need to have complete confidence that they will get the support and help of the police and be treated with sensitivity and confidentiality.”

Quinn pleaded guilty at Kingston Crown Court on 13 October 2014 appeared at the Old Bailey today.