Sun Reporter Charged With Corruption

A Sun journalist and a former police officer have been charged over alleged corrupt payments, prosecutors have said.

Ex-Metropolitan Police constable Paul Flattley and The Sun's defence editor Virginia Wheeler are accused of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.

It is alleged that Flattley was paid at least £4,000 in cheques and £2,450 in cash in exchange for information, including about the death of a 14-year-old girl.

The payments allegedly occurred between May 2008 and September 2011.

Alison Levitt QC, adviser to the Director of Public Prosecutions, said: "The information provided included information about the tragic death of a 14-year-old girl, as well as details about both suspects and victims of accidents, incidents and crimes.

"This included, but was not limited to, information about high-profile individuals and those associated with them."

The charges have been brought as a result of Operation Elveden, Scotland Yard's inquiry into alleged corrupt payments to public officials.

So far, 56 people have been arrested as part of the inquiry, six have been charged, and two - a retired police officer and a former journalist - have been told they will face no further action.

Those charged include former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks, Sun chief reporter John Kay and Ministry of Defence employee Bettina Jordan-Barber.

It is alleged that Brooks and Kay conspired to pay Jordan-Barber around £100,000 for information.

David Cameron's former spin doctor Andy Coulson and former News Of The World royal correspondent Clive Goodman also face charges.

They are accused of conspiracy to pay for information including a royal phone directory known as the 'Green Book'.

It contained contact details for the Royal family and members of their households.

Coulson and Goodman face two counts of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office - one between August 2002 and January 2003, and the other between January and June 2005.

All five are due to appear at the Old Bailey for a plea hearing on March 8.

In a separate case, Detective Chief Inspector April Casburn was found guilty of misconduct in public office earlier this month for offering to sell information to the News of the World.

She will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on February 1.