Sun news editor charged with corrupt payments

Scotland Yard’s anti-corruption investigation has announced charges against The Sun’s former deputy news editor, Ben O’Driscoll. He becomes the 14th journalist on the Murdoch-owned daily title to be charged in connection with the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Elveden investigation.

Mr O’Driscoll is being charged with one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office in relation to alleged payments of £5,000 to public officials including police officers and employees of Broadmoor. The money is alleged to have been handed over in exchange for confidential information.

Gregor McGill from the Crown Prosecution Service said the charge was linked to information given to The Sun. The CPS said this included “details about police incidents and crimes, including information about high-profile individuals and those associated with them”.

Mr O’Driscoll, who now works for the Daily Mail, is due to appear at Westminster magistrates’ court next week, 18 September. The date coincides with the appearance at other London courts of nine other individuals including a former Daily Mirror journalist, Greig Box-Turnbull, and the ex-managing editor of The Sun, Graham Dudman.

They also face charges of alleged unlawful payments to public officials.