Rebekah Brooks in court on hacking charges

FORMER News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks has appeared in court to face charges linked to alleged phone hacking.

She was in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court yesterday, accused over an alleged conspiracy to illegally access voicemails.

She appeared in the dock to face one general charge, which prosecutors claim could affect more than 600 victims, and two specific charges linked to murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler and former union boss Andrew Gilchrist.

Brooks, 44, has been accused alongside six other former members of staff from the now-defunct tabloid the News of the World and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire.

The other six are Andy Coulson, an ex-News of the World editor and former spin doctor for David Cameron, former managing editor Stuart Kuttner, former news editor Greg Miskiw, former head of news Ian Edmondson, former chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck and ex-reporter James Weatherup.

Brooks, wearing a navy blue jacket and skirt, spoke only to confirm her name, date of birth and address during the short hearing. She was told to appear at Southwark Crown Court on 26 September.

Brooks, from Churchill, in Oxfordshire, was released on bail on condition that she lives at her given address, does not contact her fellow accused and gives police seven days’ notice should she wish to travel abroad.