Terror police 'probed royal case'

  Anti-terror officers dealt with an alleged gay-sex blackmail case against two London men because the victim was a member of the Royal Family, a court has heard.

Detective Inspector Paul Harty led a team of 30 police in a sting operation personally sanctioned by the royal, known only as witness A.

They obtained £50,000 from public funds so that they could "flash" the cash at the alleged blackmailers on being asked to produce it, the Old Bailey was told.

But Mr Harty told jurors that the money was never shown to the men and admitted there had only been an "implicit" demand for money.

The court has heard that Ian Strachan and Sean McGuigan recorded a number of allegations made by a royal employee, witness D, on  a mobile phone. See Terror police 'probed royal case' BBC News