Private detective 'stole editor's rubbish bags'

A PRIVATE detective stole rubbish belonging to a newspaper executive who was investigating an alleged dirty tricks campaign against Richard Branson's Virgin airline by British Airways, a court was told yesterday.

John Reilly was spotted tip-toeing down a path at the home of Roger Eglin, managing editor of the Sunday Times newspaper, during the early hours of the morning carrying binliners of rubbish.

Isleworth Crown Court, west London, was told that journalists from Mr Eglin's newspaper were investigating allegations of a dirty tricks campaign. Mr Eglin told the court that he became concerned because the managing director of Virgin had also had rubbish stolen shortly before the incident.

'It will become apparent that the stealing of some sacks of rubbish is but a tiny part of a much bigger game-plan,' Brendan Finucane, for the prosecution, said. The trial continues today.