View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
February 11, 2013

No plea entered as Sun defence editor faces corruption trial

By Press Gazette

A former Metropolitan Police officer and a Sun journalist from south London will stand trial at the Old Bailey over alleged corrupt payments for information.

Ex-Metropolitan Police constable Paul Flattley and The Sun's defence editor Virginia Wheeler are accused of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.
Flattley appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court and the hearing went ahead in Wheeler's absence as she could not attend because of medical reasons.
District Judge Howard Riddle ruled the proceedings could go ahead with Wheeler's barrister Timothy Greene saying his client was happy for the case to progress without her present.
The defendants face allegations that the officer was paid at least £4,000 in cheques and £2,450 in cash in exchange for information between May 25 2008 and September 13 2011.
No pleas were entered to the charge.
Flattley, 30, from Stockport in Cheshire, and Wheeler, 33, from Kennington, south London, will next appear at the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing on February 22. No trial date has been set.
Flattley, wearing a grey suit and open-necked white shirt, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
He was formally charged when he answered police bail on January 22. Wheeler, who began her employment at the News International tabloid in September 2004, was charged by way of summons.

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

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