Anthony France faces two charges of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office under Met police’s Operation Elveden

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

A crime reporter from the Sun has appeared in court over allegations of payments to public officials for stories.

Anthony France allegedly paid a Met police officer for inside information between March 2008 and July 2011. He is also accused of a second misconduct charge in July and August 2011.

The reporter appeared at Westminster magistrates’ court on Thursday for a brief hearing, speaking only to confirm his name.

Prosecutor Luke Dockwray told the brief hearing: “This is a matter arising out of Operation Elveden, concerning conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.”

He is the latest of a string of reporters and executives to be charged with offences in relation to Scotland Yard’s Elveden investigation into alleged leaks by police officers and other public offiicals including prison officers in exchange for cash.

Up to 20 journalists, including Sun political writer Trevor Kavanagh, appeared in the public gallery in a show of solidarity for France.

He faces two charges: that between 31 March 2008 and 1 July 2011, he conspired with a police officer and with others unknown to commit misconduct in public office; and that on a second occasion between 19 July 2009 and 14 August 2009 he conspired together with others to commit misconduct in public office.

A second journalist, a former News of the World reporter, and a soldier appeared in a separate hearing to answer allegations of conspiring to commit misconduct in public office.

Ryan Sabey, who now works at the Sun, and Paul Brunt a soldier at the time of the alleged crime in 2006, are alleged to have conspired together and with others to commit misconduct in public office.

All three were ordered to attend the Old Bailey for preliminary hearings on 8 September.

• This article was amended on 1 September 2014. An earlier version said Rod Liddle was among the journalists in the public gallery. Liddle subsequently contacted us to say he was not there.