City Slicker tipster claims Mirror bosses asked him to 'frustrate' investigation

James Hipwell, who along with Anil Bhoyrul worked on the paper's now defunct 'City Slickers' share tipping column, claims he was asked to help out then editor Piers Morgan, who was being investigated when it emerged he had bought shares in a company about to be tipped in the paper.

Morgan was since cleared of any wrongdoing in a government investigation into the scandal last year.

According to the Press Association, Hipwell told Southwark Crown Court he was asked to help out the former editor by making it clear that Morgan had not seen the article tipping the shares before it went into the paper.

He says he was also told to "generally frustrate" the investigation, but said he stopped helping when it became clear he was also being investigated.

Hipwell and Bhoyrul were fired from the paper in February 2000. Hipwell and private investor Terry Shepherd, are charged with breaching the Financial Services Act, and specifically creating a misleading impression of the value of shares. The two deny the charges. The case continues.

If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the Forum.