Racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks arrested in phone hacking investigation

Racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks has been arrested by detectives investigating phone hacking allegations against journalists.

Charlie’s wife – former News International boss, Rebekah Brooks – has also been detained.

Scotland Yard said one woman and five men were arrested early this morning on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Those arrested were a 49-year-old man and 43-year-old woman, both from Oxfordshire, a 39-year-old man from Hampshire, a 46-year-old man from Hertfordshire and a 48-year-old man from east London.

Officers from the Operation Weeting phone-hacking inquiry are searching addresses connected to the arrests.

Rebekah Brooks was arrested under Operation Weeting last July on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications and as part of the Operation Elveden investigation on suspicion of corruption.

The arrest is unfortunate timing for Charlie, coming on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival.

In an article for the Daily Telegraph, he wrote that today was his “happiest moment of the year”.

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