An ex-Met chief warned a colleague: “I am very well-connected,” in an apparent bid to halt an internal probe into media leaks, the Leveson inquiry has heard.
Former assistant commissioner John Yates allegedly refused to allow another senior officer to review his phone records amid an investigation into unauthorised disclosures during the “cash-for-honours” probe.
His links to the media were being looked at by Bob Quick, then Surrey’s chief constable. Mr Yates led a 2006 inquiry into claims peerages were sold by a Labour government.
Today Mr Quick said he thought Mr Yates would welcome an analysis of his phone records as it could refute any allegations against him.
He said Mr Yates refused and told him, “No Bob, I am very well connected.” He claimed then-deputy commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson told him not to take it any further. Mr Yates has always denied leaks during the probe.
