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A man known only as Nick - whose allegations sparked the Operation Midland paedophile investigation in Westminster - has been charged with perverting the course of justice.

The 50-year-old, whose real identity cannot be revealed for legal reasons, is has been charged with 12 counts of perverting the course of justice, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

He has also been charged with defrauding the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.

Nick will appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court in due course.

He made a series of allegations when he claimed he had been abused for nine years by a VIP gang in the 70s and 80s.

(Image: PA)

The resulting £2.5 million Metropolitan Police investigation, dubbed Operation Midland, saw officers raiding the homes of prominent figures including Lord Bramall, the late ex-home secretary Lord Brittan and and ex-Tory MP Harvey Proctor - but closed without any arrests.

During the investigation, suspects' homes were raided by police but no arrests were made and it was shut down in 2016.

Frank Ferguson, the CPS's head of special crime, said: "The CPS has considered a file of evidence from Northumbria Police relating to allegations of perverting the course of justice and fraud by a 50-year-old man.

"The police investigation provided evidence that the man had made a number of false allegations alleging multiple homicides and sexual abuse said to have been carried out in the 1970s and 1980s.

"Following careful consideration we have concluded there is sufficient evidence to bring a number of criminal charges.

(Image: Daily Mirror) (Image: PA)

"He has today been charged with 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one count of fraud and will appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court in due course.

"Criminal proceedings in relation to this matter are now active and it is extremely important there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings."

The fraud charge alleges that he falsely claimed £22,000 from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority by saying "he was subjected to abuse by a paedophile ring, knowing this to be untrue and intending thereby to make a gain for himself".

Labour peer and former MP Lord Janner was among those accused and died in 2015 before his name was cleared.