James Desborough is a show business writer, media commentator and PR consultant who works in Los Angeles, New York and London.
Desborough was hired by The People newspaper in summer of 2001 replacing their existing show business reporter Sean Hoare, who left to join The News Of The World.
, but the story appeared under the byline of Katie Nicholl in The Mail On Sunday on 22 July with the headline: "George Harrison Is Close to Death Says '5th Beatle' Martin".
Afterwards Martin denied giving the quotes, but in the next few months many more media outlets reported Harrison's condition was worsening.
Elyzabeth told Desborough that Mills was "a lying witch", who misled the public over McCartney's financial donations to her and daughter Bea during their separation.
[11] Desborough did an interview with Amy Winehouse's former boyfriend, Alex Haines, in 2008, detailing her addictions to crack and marijuana.
Haines admitted that Winehouse planned to join "The 27 Club" – the list of famous musicians who died at the age of 27.
Desborough generated more headlines for the News Of The World when Michael's father Joe Jackson blamed his wife Katherine for the death of their son.
[16][17][18] In 2011, he was asked to assist with enquiries by UK officers from Operation Weeting, who were investigating editorial and management staff over suspicions of phone hacking.
Later that day, an officer Peter Cripps from Operation Weeting was arrested at his desk over suspicions of leaks to The Guardian.
In March 2012 Alison Levitt QC, the principal legal advisor to the Director of Public Prosecutions, said there was "sufficient evidence" to show that 10 articles written by Guardian journalist Amelia Hill between 4 April 2011 and 18 August 2011 contained confidential information from Operation Weeting, including the names of those who had been arrested.
Desborough was named the runner up at the same Awards in 2013 for an exclusive article in the Sunday Express on Oscar winner Adele's move to abandon her world tour plans.