View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

Thurlbeck will not face charges over witness intimidation

By Andrew Pugh

The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed it will not be prosecuting former News of the World chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck over allegations of witness intimidation and harassment relating to the phone-hacking scandal.

A statement released by the Met today said: “A 50-year-old man was arrested by appointment at a central London police station on Wednesday, 14 March, by officers from Operation Weeting, the MPS inquiry into the phone-hacking of voicemail boxes.

‘He was arrested on suspicion of intimidation of a witness (contrary to Section 51 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994) and encouraging or assisting an offence (contrary to Section 46 of the Serious Crime Act 2007) and released on bail to a police station in south-west London. He returned this morning (Friday, 27 April) and was released with no further action.”

Thurlbeck was previously arrested on 5 April 2011 on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications and unlawful interception of voicemail messages

The Met said he was bailed to return to a south-west London police station in May this year in relation to the arrest in April.

The allegations related to a blog post by Thurlbeck on 7 March in which he gave the home address of Will Lewis, a member of News Corporation‘s Management and Standards Committee.

Alison Levitt QC, the top legal adviser to the director of public prosecutions, said “Having applied the full test set out in the code for Crown prosecutors the CPS has concluded that no prosecution should take place.

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

“Given that the journalist in question remains on bail for further offences we do not intend to give any further information at this point.

“Mr Thurlbeck remains on police bail on suspicion of offences under Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.”

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