The News of the World has suspended assistant editor (royals) Clive Goodman following him being charged with conspiring to intercept phone messages.
Goodman, 48, is to remain suspended until the outcome of the police enquiry.
He is due to appear in court along with Glenn Mulcaire, 35, on 16 August.
Goodman has been with the paper for 20 years and enjoyed a distinguished career with numerous scoops.
His prosecution is believed to have been prompted by an allegation that he hacked into the mobile phone message system of a Royal aide.
Related
Press Gazette has learned that this practice – known in Fleet Street slang as “screwing” a phone – has been widespread in the UK national press.
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