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  1. Media Law
September 17, 2014updated 18 Sep 2014 4:04pm

Freelance journalist arrested in dawn raid a year ago is cleared by CPS of conspiracy

By Dominic Ponsford

A 44-year-old freelance journalist arrested in dawn raid on his Northumberland home a year ago has been cleared by the Crown  Prosecution Service.

A 47-year-old former journalist, interviewed under caution by police investigating illegal payments on 12 November last year, has also been told that they will face no further action.

The Met Police sent files on both men to the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration.

Senior lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service Gregor McGill said: “The CPS has today [17 September 2014] decided in relation to two individuals, both journalists, that no further action will be taken concerning allegations of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.

"A file was received from the Metropolitan Police Service on 23 January 2014. After careful consideration it has been decided that there is insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction. This decision has been made in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

"Any decision by the CPS does not imply any finding concerning guilt or criminal conduct; the CPS makes decisions only according to the test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors and it is applied in all decisions on whether or not to prosecute."

At least 63 journalists have been arrested and/or charged as a result of police investigations prompted by the News of the World hacking scandal since April 2011.

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Five remain on police bail, 28 are awaiting trial, 20 have been cleared by police or the CPS, five convicted and three found not guilty by a jury. One individual has accepted a caution and one had the case against her dropped on health grounds.

Full list of journalists arrested and/or charged since April 2011

Name Title Offence First arrested Charged Result
Ian Edmondson NoW Hacking, payments 05/04/2011 Yes Awaiting trial
Neville Thurlbeck NoW Hacking 05/04/2011 Yes Guilty
James Weatherup NoW Hacking 14/04/2011 Yes Guilty
Tenia Taras Freelance Hacking 27/06/2011 No Cleared
Laura Elston PA Hacking 27/06/2011 No Cleared
Clive Goodman NoW Payments 08/07/2011 Yes Awaiting trial
Andy Coulson NoW Hacking, payments, perjury 08/07/2011 Yes Guilty (hacking)
Neil Wallis NoW Hacking 14/07/2011 Yes Awaiting trial
Rebekah Brooks NoW, Sun Hacking, payments, CPCJ 17/07/2011 Yes Not guilty
Stuart Kuttner NoW Hacking 02/08/2011 Yes Not guilty
Greg Miskiw NoW Hacking 10/08/2011 Yes Guilty
James Desborough NoW Hacking 18/08/2011 No Cleared
Dan Evans NoW, Mirror Hacking, payments, CPCJ 19/08/2011 Yes Guilty
Ross Hall NoW Hacking 02/09/2011 No Cleared
Raoul Simons NoW Hacking 07/09/2011 No Cleared
Jamie Pyatt The Sun Payments 04/11/2011 Yes Awaiting trial
Bethany Usher NoW Hacking 30/11/2011 No Cleared
Lucy Panton NoW Payments 15/12/2011 Yes Awaiting trial
Mike Sullivan The Sun Payments 28/01/2012 No Cleared
Graham Dudman The Sun Payments 28/01/2012 Yes Awaiting trial
Fergus Shanahan The Sun Payments 28/01/2012 Yes Awaiting trial
Chris Pharo The Sun Payments 28/01/2012 Yes Awaiting trial
John Sturgis The Sun Payments 11/02/2012 No Cleared
Geoff Webster The Sun Payments 11/02/2012 Yes Awaiting trial
John Kay The Sun Payments 11/02/2012 Yes Awaiting trial
Nick Parker The Sun Payments 11/02/2012 Yes Awaiting trial
Virginia Wheeler The Sun Payments 01/03/2012 Yes Charges dropped health grounds
Duncan Larcombe The Sun Payments 19/04/2012 Yes Awaiting trial
Clodargh Hartley The Sun Payments 25/05/2012 Yes Awaiting trial
Neil Millard The Sun Payments 14/06/2012 Yes Awaiting trial
Greig Box-Turnbull Daily Mirror Payments 04/07/2012 Yes Awaiting trial
Justin Penrose Sunday Mirror Payments 11/07/2012 No Cleared
Tom Savage Daily Star Sunday Payments 11/07/2012 Yes Awaiting trial
Rhodri Phillips The Sun Computer hacking 19/07/2012 No Cleared
Man, 37 The Sun Handling stolen phone 31/07/2012 No Cleared
Ben Ashford The Sun Handling stolen phone 07/08/2012 Yes Not guilty
Vince Soodin The Sun Payments 08/08/2012 Yes Awaiting trial
Douglas Wright NoW Hacking, perjury 17/08/2012 Yes Awaiting trial
Patrick Foster The Times Computer hacking 29/08/2012 No Cautioned
Bob Bird NoW CPCJ 29/08/2012 Yes Awaiting trial
Alex Marunchak NoW Computer hacking 02/09/2012 No On Bail
John Coles The Sun Payments 19/09/2012 No Cleared
Tom Wells The Sun Payments 19/09/2012 Yes Awaiting trial
Chris Pollard The Sun Handling stolen phone 20/09/2012 No Cleared
Woman, 38   Payments 06/12/2012 No Cleared
Anthony France The Sun Payments 17/01/2013 Yes Awaiting trial
Matt Nixson NoW Hacking 13/02/2013 No Cleared
Rav Singh NoW Hacking 13/02/2013 No Cleared
Rachel Richardson NoW Hacking 13/02/2013 No Cleared
Jane Atkinson NoW Hacking 13/02/2013 No Cleared
Polly Graham NoW Hacking 13/02/2013 No Cleared
Jules Stenson NoW Hacking 13/02/2013 Yes Awaiting trial
James Scott Sunday People Hacking 14/03/2013 No On bail
Tina Weaver Sunday Mirror Hacking 14/03/2013 No On bail
Mark Thomas Sunday People Hacking 14/03/2013 No On bail
Nick Buckley Sunday People Hacking 14/03/2013 No On bail
John Troup* The Sun Payments 21/05/2013 Yes Awaiting trial
John Edwards The Sun Payments 21/06/2013 Yes Awaiting trial
Ben O'Driscoll* The Sun Payments 12/09/2013 Yes Awaiting trial
Man, 43 Freelance Payments 13/09/2013 No Cleared
Graham Brough* Daily Mirror Payments 26/02/2014 Yes Awaiting trial
Brandon Malinsky* The Sun Payments 26/02/2014 Yes Awaiting trial
Ryan Sabey* NoW Payments 15/08/2014 Yes Awaiting trial

 

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