Amanda Watts passed on information to journalists about the Faith singer's time at Highpoint Prison in Suffolk, England, where he spent eight weeks in 2010 for driving under the influence of drugs.

Watts, who worked as a warder at the jail at the time, was paid $3,360 (£2,100) for giving details to reporters from The Sun, which subsequently led to five stories appearing in the newspaper.

Watts pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct in public office in September (15) was told a "prison sentence was inevitable".

She was handed a 12-month sentence at the Old Bailey in London on Tuesday (03Nov15) and told by Judge John Bevan QC she had set a "bad example" in a job which required "loyalty and discretion''.

He also ordered her to hand over $3,800 (£2,399) and pay $1,280 (£800) in court costs.