News of the World journalist Clive Goodman appeared in court on Wednesday morning on charges of hacking into mobile phones.

Assistant editor (Royals) Goodman, 48, from Putney, has been charged with one count of conspiring to intercept voicemail messages, and eight counts of intercepting voicemail messages.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 1 January and 9 August this year.

The case is being transferred from the City of Westminster Magistrates Court to the Old Bailey. Goodman was released on unconditional bail until his next court appearance on 29 November.

He was arrested on 8 August following an allegation that the mobile phone messages of aides working for the Prince of Wales had been intercepted. The offices of the News of the World in Wapping were searched by police the same day.

Glenn Mulcaire, 35, from Sutton, who is up on the same charges as Goodman, also appeared in court and was released on bail.