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| Operation Elveden: Sun defence editor and Met officer face Old Bailey trial | Operation Elveden: Sun defence editor and Met officer face Old Bailey trial |
| (4 months later) | |
| The Sun's defence editor, Virginia Wheeler, and a Metropolitan police officer, Paul Flattley, were on Monday told they would stand trial at the Old Bailey in relation to alleged payments of about £6,500 for stories in the paper. | The Sun's defence editor, Virginia Wheeler, and a Metropolitan police officer, Paul Flattley, were on Monday told they would stand trial at the Old Bailey in relation to alleged payments of about £6,500 for stories in the paper. |
| At a hearing at Westminster magistrates' court on Monday morning, Wheeler, 33, was charged with conspiring with Flattley to "commit misconduct in a public office" over tip-offs for stories over a three-year period. | At a hearing at Westminster magistrates' court on Monday morning, Wheeler, 33, was charged with conspiring with Flattley to "commit misconduct in a public office" over tip-offs for stories over a three-year period. |
| Wheeler, from Kennington in London, did not appear in court for medical reasons, but consented for the charges to be made in her absence. | Wheeler, from Kennington in London, did not appear in court for medical reasons, but consented for the charges to be made in her absence. |
| Her counsel, Timothy Greene, said a medical report was submitted to the court to testify to her "unfitness" to appear in court. | Her counsel, Timothy Greene, said a medical report was submitted to the court to testify to her "unfitness" to appear in court. |
| Flattley, from Stockport, is alleged to have been "paid at least £4,000 (in the form of cheques) and £2,450 (in cash) by the Sun newspaper in exchange for information provided in breach of the terms of his employment". | Flattley, from Stockport, is alleged to have been "paid at least £4,000 (in the form of cheques) and £2,450 (in cash) by the Sun newspaper in exchange for information provided in breach of the terms of his employment". |
| Crown prosecutor Mark Bryant Heron said Flattley had "provided Ms Wheeler with material obtained as a direct result of his employment by the Met police" and had received £6,450 between 2008 and 2011. | Crown prosecutor Mark Bryant Heron said Flattley had "provided Ms Wheeler with material obtained as a direct result of his employment by the Met police" and had received £6,450 between 2008 and 2011. |
| He told the court that following the submission of a medical report to the court, an application was being made in Wheeler's absence that the matter be heard before the central criminal court on 22 February when a pre-trial hearing will take place. | He told the court that following the submission of a medical report to the court, an application was being made in Wheeler's absence that the matter be heard before the central criminal court on 22 February when a pre-trial hearing will take place. |
| Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle said he was "satisfied that she was unwell and unfit to be present today" but that "technically she is present in counsel" and could be sent for a pre-trial hearing at the Old Bailey. | Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle said he was "satisfied that she was unwell and unfit to be present today" but that "technically she is present in counsel" and could be sent for a pre-trial hearing at the Old Bailey. |
| Wheeler and Flattley were arrested last year as part of the Met's Operation Elveden investigation into inappropriate payments made to the police and other public officials by newspapers. | Wheeler and Flattley were arrested last year as part of the Met's Operation Elveden investigation into inappropriate payments made to the police and other public officials by newspapers. |
| When announcing the charges, the Crown Prosecution Service said the tip-offs by Flattley included information in relation to the death of a 15-year-old girl. | When announcing the charges, the Crown Prosecution Service said the tip-offs by Flattley included information in relation to the death of a 15-year-old girl. |
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