Mancon in News of the World sting

Sleuth, Manchester Confidential’s man about town, has admitted he was duped by a News of the World undercover reporter into taking £20 off him ‘for a pint or two, and some scampi fries’ last Friday, in return for making contact with celebrities.

Sleuth has released the following statement; "I very deeply regret the situation and the embarrassment caused. It is true that my drinking situation was under stress, however, that is no excuse for a serious lapse in judgment and I am very sorry that this has happened.”

According to Sleuth the trouble arose when he ran out of cash in the Blackdog Ballroom and asked for another £20 off Gordo to see him through the night. He thought Gordo was taking a quick kip nearby.

As his vision was temporarily impaired at the time he claims he didn’t realise that he was talking to a pool table not a prone Gordo. The News of the World learned of the request and within five minutes had a hack to hand.

“I am a multi-millionaire Arab prince and I would give you that £20, as long as you could give me an introduction to the cast of Hollyoaks,” the man said in a broad cockney accent and in traditional Arab dress of jeans and t-shirt.

Sleuth says: “I was completely taken in, who’d think the News of the World would stoop so low? I confess I undertook to get the man an introduction to Hollyoaks for the £20. But I swear I was just after another drink, I don’t know anybody on Hollyoaks. I didn’t even know it was a soap opera, I thought it was a bizarre genetic experiment involving two trees.”

The Bribe

Sleuth would also like to apologise to fish after last week being caught out by the Mail on Sunday. On that occasion he was taped by an alluring young lady who he thought he was merely taking for dinner into saying, “cod are the only fish that can talk you know: they shout ‘gerroff me’ in a Geordie accent after generations of being pursued by North East fisherman.”

“Of course I’m not sure whether that’s true or not, but people are impressed by fish facts.” said Sleuth. “But I stand by my scientifically proven statement that 68.7% of Greater Manchester bus drivers are nasty or indifferent to their passengers even though I have nothing with which to back this figure up.”

The News of the World and the Mail on Sunday issued this statement. . “Our actions weren’t entrapment, they simply involved the payment of sums of money to an individual who may not have taken that money and performed those actions unless we’d encouraged them to do so.”

A judge told Confidential, “revealing Sleuth took £20 for an introduction to Hollyoaks cast, was clearly not in the public interest. It may have taken place in public but it’s not interesting in any way.”

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