Charlie Brooks charged in phone hacking inquiry

Racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks and his wife – former News International boss, Rebekah – are being charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, in connection with the phone hacking inquiry.

Three of Mrs Brooks’s staff, and the head of security at News International, Mark Hanna, are also charged with the offence.

The charges relate to alleged offences in July last year including concealing documents and computers from police.

In a statement, Charlie and Rebekah Brooks said: “We deplore this weak and unjust decision.”

Mrs Brooks – a former editor of The Sun and The News of the World – is charged – along with her husband, personal assistant Cheryl Carter, chauffeur Paul Edwards, security man Daryl Jorsling, News International head of security Mr Hanna and “persons unknown” – with conspiring to “conceal material” from police between 6 and 19 July last year.

In a second charge, Mrs Brooks and Ms Carter are accused of conspiring to remove seven boxes of material from the News International archive between 6 and 9 July 2011.

And in a third charge, Mr and Mrs Brooks, Mr Hanna, Mr Edwards and Mr Jorsling are accused of conspiring to conceal documents, computers and other electronic equipment from police officers between 15 and 19 July.

They deny the charges.

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