Undercover police officer exposed by his own blunder, spycops inquiry hears

The officer, known as Simon Wellings, was infiltrating the leftwing Globalise Resistance group in 2004 when he compromised his own cover. Photograph: Undercover Policing enquiry

An undercover police officer has admitted he was exposed as an infiltrator by his own blunder, which has been described by activists as worthy of Inspector Clouseau, the spycops public inquiry has heard.

The officer, who used the fake name Simon Wellings, jeopardised his own covert deployment by mistakenly recording himself discussing individual campaigners with other special branch officers.