Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks appear in court

• Brooks and Coulson appeared alongside former Sun chief reporter John Kay, Ministry of Defence worker Bettina Jordan-Barber and ex-News of the World royal correspondent Clive Goodman

• They face allegations of corrupt payments to public officials

• All five were released on unconditional bail until they appear at Southwark Crown Court on December 6

During the hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Brooks appeared alongside John Kay and Bettina Jordan-Barber. It is alleged that Brooks and Kay conspired to pay Bettina Jordan-Barber around £100,000 for information.

They each face one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office between January 1 2004 and January 31 this year, relating to allegations that Jordan-Barber was paid to provide information to the Sun newspaper.

They were all released on unconditional bail until they next appear at Southwark Crown Court on December 6.

Coulson and ex-News of the World royal correspondent Clive Goodman appeared afterwards.

They are charged with conspiracy to pay for information including a royal phone directory known as the “Green Book”, which contained contact details for the Royal Family and members of their households.

Coulson and Goodman face two counts of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office - one between August 31 2002 and January 31 2003, and the other between January 31 and June 3 2005.

They relate to the alleged request and authorisation of payments to public officials in exchange for information, including the royal contacts book.

Coulson and Goodman were both released on unconditional bail until the same date as the other three defendants.