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| 'Fake Sheikh' Mazher Mahmood charged over Tulisa trial | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Former News of the World "fake Sheikh" Mazher Mahmood has been charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice over the trial of singer Tulisa Contostavlos, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said. | |
| A drugs case against Miss Contostavlos collapsed in July last year. | |
| The reporter has been charged alongside Alan Smith, who was his driver. | |
| Mr Mahmood said in a statement that he denied the offence and would "vigorously contest it at court". | |
| He is alleged to have "misled" the court during Miss Contostavlos's trial at Southwark Crown Court. | |
| 'Deeply disappointed' | |
| Nick Vamos, of the CPS, said: "After carefully considering all of the evidence the CPS has decided that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to charge both men. | |
| "This decision comes after it was alleged that Mr Smith agreed with Mr Mahmood to change his statement to police as part of a trial in July 2014, and that Mr Mahmood then misled the court." | |
| In a statement issued by his lawyers, Mr Mahmood said: "I am deeply disappointed that, after a totally unjustified delay, the Crown Prosecution Service have today informed me that they have decided to charge me with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. | |
| "I deny the offence. I will vigorously contest it at court. In the meantime I have nothing further to say." | |
| Mr Mahmood and Mr Smith will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 30 October. |