Mr Yanover, previously known as Jeremy Young, admitted that he believed Mr Burrows had escaped arrest and conviction in relation to their work at AIS by being an informant.
However, he denied that he held a grudge against him. “It’s an opportunity for me to tell the truth, get my side of the story out and get others held accountable,” he said of his decision to give evidence.
Mr White accused the former police officer of being a “thoroughly dishonest man”. “How does your pointing the finger at Gavin Burrows set any of what you did straight?” he said.
The court heard that Yanover had originally been approached about testifying by Graham Johnson, a convicted phone-hacker working for the claimants.
Mr White alleged that the “long list of individuals” that Mr Johnson approached had been paid for their testimony.
Mr Yanover insisted he had not been paid, or offered a book deal, as many other witnesses reportedly had. However, he admitted that he had once appeared in a film for Hacked Off wearing a mask.
In November, Mr Justice Nicklin dismissed an application to allow Yanover – then identified only by the codename “Berlin” – to give evidence anonymously.
The court heard that the former police officer feared a reprisal attack from Mr Burrows if his identity was made public.
Mr Justice Nicklin ruled that the risk of “adverse consequences” for “Berlin” did not outweigh the principle of open justice.
The trial continues.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.telegraph.co.uk ’
