Broadmoor healthcare worker charged with selling info about patients to Sun

A former healthcare assistant at Broadmoor has been charged with selling information to journalists.

Robert Neave, 59, was charged today with conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office by detectives investigating alleged payments to public officials.

Neave, of Markfield Crescent, Knowsley, Merseyside, will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 18 July, Scotland Yard said.

It is alleged that between 22 March, 2002 and 12 January, 2011, Neave conspired with Sun journalists Jamie Pyatt and John Edwards, as well as other public officials employed at Broadmoor, and employees at Thames Valley and Surrey Police forces, and British Army officials, to commit misconduct in a public office.

Journalist Pyatt, 49, and pictures editor Edwards, 49, were both charged last week with the same offence and will also appear at the same court on the same date.

The charges are a result of Operation Elveden, Scotland Yard's probe into alleged corrupt payments to public officials, which is running alongside its phone hacking inquiry Operation Weeting.

Announcing it had authorised police to charge the men last week, the Crown Prosecution Service said the charge involves buying information including details about Broadmoor patients and the work of a member of the Royal family.

Gregor McGill, from the CPS, said it was alleged that over a period of almost nine years The Sun made payments totalling more than £30,000 to public officials including police officers, army personnel and Broadmoor officials, including Neave, in exchange for information.

"It is alleged that the information for which The Sun made payments included that relating to the health and activities of Broadmoor patients, details about the work of a member of the Royal family and details of ongoing police investigations," he said.