Corbyn: I'm very uncomfortable with paying anyone for evidence of any sort

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said Northumbria Police's decision to pay almost £10,000 to a child rapist who acted as an informant made him feel "very uncomfortable" but that "it's important that women are protected and safeguarded and that prosecutions actually take place."

The informant - known only as XY - was recruited by Northumbria Police despite being a convicted sex offender who had drugged and raped an under-age girl, and then invited another man to also rape her.

The use and payment of XY emerged during the pre-trial hearings against a gang who plied young girls and vulnerable women with drugs and alcohol, before raping and sexually abusing them at parties.

The Labour leader said:

"I've listened very carefully to what the NSPCC said this morning and I've got obvious sympathy with their point.

I'm very uncomfortable with paying anyone for evidence of any sort, albeit this time it was paid for intelligence.

I think we have to look very closely at that but also it's important thatwomen are protected and safeguarded and that prosecutions actually take place of people who are committing the most heinous crimes possible."

The police have to be on to this all the time."