Sun head of news Chris Pharo, former crime editor of the News of the World Lucy Panton and Daily Star Sunday deputy editor Tom Savage have all been charged with making illegal payments.
Pharo becomes the 10th Sun journalist to be charged as a result of the Met Police Operation Elveden probe into payments.
It is alleged that between March 2010 and June 2011 – Scott Chapman, a prison officer at HMP Woodhill, sold information to the News of the World, The Sun, Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, Sunday People, Daily Star and the Daily Star Sunday.
According to the CPS: “The information largely related to a high-profile prisoner and it is alleged that the payments were received via a conduit, Mr Chapman’s ex-partner, Lynn Gaffney.”
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The pair are alleged to have received:
- 13 payments totaling £9,300 from News International in connection with 11 articles published in the News of the World and The Sun
- 13 payments totaling £12,800 from Express Newspapers in connection with 23 articles published in the The Daily Star and The Star on Sunday
- £13,050 in payments from Trinity Mirror in connection with 14 articles published in the The Daily Mirror, The Sunday Mirror and The People.
Chapman and Gaffney face four counts of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.
Panton and Savage, face one count each of conspiring to commit misconduct in public office.
The CPS has decided that no further action will be taken against one unnamed journalist from the Mirror Group because “there is insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction in relation to this matter”.
The CPS said: “Due to ongoing proceedings it would be inappropriate to say any more at this stage.”
With regard to Pharo, it is alleged that between January 2006 and December 2010 he authorised payments to employees at Broadmoor secure hospital and at the
He has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.
The CPS said that no further action will taken against another unnamed journalist accused of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office with three public officials.
The CPS said: “After carefully reviewing the file it was determined that there was insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that no further action should be taken in relation to these allegations.
“Due to ongoing proceedings in Operation Elveden it would be inappropriate to say any more at this stage.”
The full charges are as follows:
SCOTT CHAPMAN, LYNN GAFFNEY, LUCY PANTON AND THOMAS SAVAGE
1. Scott Chapman and Lynn Gaffney, between 22.3.10 and 9.4.11, conspired together and with journalists at The Sun to commit misconduct in public office. Contrary to section 1(1) Criminal Law Act 1977
2. Scott Chapman and Lynn Gaffney, between 26.6.10 and 20.6.11, conspired together and with persons unknown at Trinity Mirror Group, to commit misconduct in public office. Contrary to section 1(1) Criminal Law Act 1977
3. Scott Chapman, Lynn Gaffney and Thomas Savage, between 22.7.10 and 20.6.11, conspired together to commit misconduct in public office. Contrary to section 1(1) Criminal Law Act 1977
4. Scott Chapman, Lynn Gaffney and Lucy Panton between 5.8.10 and 11.9.10, conspired together to commit misconduct in public office. Contrary to section 1(1) Criminal Law Act 1977
CHRIS PHARO
Between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2010 Chris Pharo conspired together with journalists and with public officials, namely public officials employed at Broadmoor secure hospital, employees of the Thames Valley, Surrey and Metropolitan police forces, officers in the British Army and prison officials, to commit misconduct in public office Contrary to section 1(1) Criminal Law Act 1977
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