Gordon Ramsay's father-in-law Chris Hutcheson admits hacking chef's computer

The father-in-law of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has admitted computer hacking.

Chris Hutcheson, 68, was charged under Operation Tuleta with conspiring to cause a computer to access programs and data without authority.

Three of his children - Adam Hutcheson, 46, Orlanda Butland, 45, and Chris Hutcheson Jr, 37 - also faced the same charge.

They appeared before Judge Gerald Gordon at the Old Bailey and spoke to confirm their identities.

The defendants all pleaded guilty, apart from Ms Butland, who denied the charge.

The pleas were accepted by the prosecution, which offered no evidence in relation to Ms Butland.

Hutcheson Snr, who the court heard is due to go into hospital later this month for a hip replacement, is the father of Ramsay's wife Tana.

The charges relate to an alleged plot to hack the computer system at Gordon Ramsay Holdings Ltd between 23 October 2010 and 31 March 2011.

Butland, of Wycombe Place, Earlsfield, southwest London, Hutcheson Snr, who has a home in Druillat, France, but gave the same address as his daughter, Hutcheson Jnr, of Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, and Adam Hutcheson, of Sevenoaks, Kent, were all on bail.

The judge agreed to the preparation of pre-sentence reports and said all sentencing options were open, including a maximum sentence of two years in prison.

Sentencing has been adjourned until 2 June.

Ms Butland's lawyer, Emma Collins, asked for costs on behalf of her client after Judge Gordon formally entered a not guilty verdict in her case.

He asked prosecutor Robert Sullivan QC whether the Crown's case was that she had "brought the prosecution upon herself".

Mr Sullivan replied: "Yes. Given the verdict your honour has entered, I do not seek to rehearse the evidence but the decision was based on public interest not the evidential basis."

A spokeswoman for Gordon Ramsay declined to comment.