View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Media Law
June 13, 2012updated 14 Sep 2012 4:37pm

Rebekah Brooks bailed on phone-hack charges

By PA Media Lawyer

Former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and her racehorse trainer husband Charlie today made their first appearance in court on charges relating to the phone-hacking scandal.

Mrs Brooks, 44, of Churchill, Oxfordshire, and her husband Charlie, 49, were bailed to appear for a preliminary hearing at Southwark Crown Court on June 22.

Brooks, who passed through security without having to queue at Westminster Magistrates' Court, faces three charges of conspiring to pervert the course of justice, while her husband is charged with one count of the same offence.

She is accused of removing boxes of material from the News International archive and trying to conceal documents, computers and other material from Operation Weeting, Scotland Yard's inquiry into the phone hacking scandal.

Also appearing at the court today were Mrs Brooks' former personal assistant Cheryl Carter, 48, of Mildmay Road, Chelmsford, Essex; head of security at News International Mark Hanna, 49, of Glynswood Road, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire; Mrs Brooks' chauffeur Paul Edwards, 47, of Victoria Park Square, Bethnal Green, east London; and security consultant Daryl Jorsling, 39, of Vale Road, Aldershot, Hampshire.

They all face a single charge of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

Brooks was wearing a navy jacket and skirt and a green scarf, and sat between her husband and Carter.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

District Judge Howard Riddle told the defendants: "Your case is sent for trial at Southwark Crown Court and the first hearing will be on June 22.

"You should be there no later than 9.30am. If you do not turn up on time you commit an offence and lose your bail, and in some circumstances the trial could continue in your absence."

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network