Coulson and Brooks at Old Bailey to face charges

FORMER government spin doctor Andy Coulson appeared at the Old Bailey in London yesterday to face charges over an alleged conspiracy to bribe public officials for information.

By The Newsroom

Published 9th Mar 2013, 02:00 BST

Coulson, 45, is accused with ex-News of the World (NoTW) royal correspondent Clive Goodman of requesting and authorising payments to public officials in exchange for information, including a royal phone directory known as the Green Book.

Former NoTW editor Coulson, from Kent, and Goodman, 55, from Surrey, face two counts of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office – one between 31 August, 2002 and 31 January, 2003, and the other between 31 January and 3 June, 2005.

The case was adjourned until next month.

Former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks, 44, from Churchill, Oxfordshire, also appeared to face charges over alleged payments to a Ministry of Defence official.