Sun crime reporter Anthony France, the only journalist to have been convicted under Operation Elveden, passed the first stage in having his conviction overturned by the Court of Appeal.

Following a hearing this morning, the three appeal court judges agreed to hear arguments for overturning the conviction later this year.

The decision, made today by England’s second highest court, was described by France’s lawyer Richard Kovalevsky QC as “the first hurdle” in appealing his conviction for aiding and abetting misconduct in public office.