A TABLOID newspaper was offered details of a plot by Muslim extremists to kidnap and behead a prison officer uncovered at a North-East jail, a court heard today.

Paul Capewell, 41, who worked at HMP Frankland in County Durham, is accused of smuggling out confidential papers and giving them to his older brother John, 45, to sell.

Christopher Tate, a senior reporter for News of the World, told Newcastle Crown Court that John Capewell offered him the information for £40,000.

Mr Tate left court before he had finished giving evidence to seek legal advice after Judge Richard Lowden warned that he could be ‘‘incriminating himself’’ as aiding and abetting Paul Capewell’s alleged criminality.

Among the documents shown to Mr Tate was information relating to child killer Huntley, who is serving life for murdering Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

Mr Tate said he met John Capewell for the first time at a Tyneside motorway service station in April 2008.

He said: ‘‘He had come with what appeared to be photocopied documents that he was interested in selling to the News of the World.

‘‘It was a thick sheaf of documents which contained small photographs and the names sex offenders at Frankland jail.

‘‘In that document was a reference to Ian Huntley, who is a prisoner at Frankland.’’ A month later Mr Tate and John Capewell met again.

Mr Tate said: ‘‘I was shown a photocopied A4 sheet which contained details of Huntley’s clothing, goods and personal effects that he was allowed to have within Frankland prison.’’ John Capewell also contacted Mr Tate via telephone and email with information about other matters at Frankland including ‘‘religious racial tensions’’ and ‘‘riots’’.

Mr Tate said: ‘‘He telephoned me regarding information on the uncovering of a plot by Islamic extremists to kidnap and behead a prison officer, film it on a mobile phone and broadcast it on the internet.’’ He explained that Mr Capewell had a photocopy of internal documents which contained the names of those allegedly involved in the plot.

Mr Tate said the News of the World did not publish any information provided by John Capewell because it had either appeared in another publication or was not newsworthy enough to use.

Paul Capewell, of Salmon Street, South Shields, South Tyneside, denies a charge of misconduct in public office.

His brother, of Horsley View, Wallsend, denies aiding and abetting misconduct in public office.

Prosecutor Peter Moulson told the court yesterday that the thefts only came to light when a dog walker found documents scattered on a bridle path in Wallsend, North Tyneside, on September 13 last year.

The documents had come from the prison and many had John Capewell’s fingerprints on them.

The court heard that police inquiries discovered they had been stolen from John Capewell’s car and further searches of his house recovered copies of contracts between the defendant and the News of the World.