six journalists in court over alleged payments to public officials

six journalists, two public officials and one of their former partners appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 18 July 2013 to face allegations that they made or received corrupt payments.

The prosecution is understood to be the first arising from Operation Elveden which involves a journalist from a non-News International publication.

The Daily star sunday's deputy news editor Tom savage was accused by prosecutors of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office by paying an officer at a high security prison for information in relation to a high profile inmate.  Former News of the World crime editor Lucy Panton faces a similar count.  Prison Officer scott Chapman and his ex-partner Lynn Gaffney are accused of selling information to the News of the World, the sun, the Daily Mirror, the sunday Mirror, the People, the Daily star and the Daily star sunday between March 2010 and June 2011, receiving payments via Ms Gaffney.

In a separate case sun journalist and former news editor Chris Pharo was accused of authorising payments to officers at Broadmoor secure hospital, police officers, prison officials and army officers between 2006 and 2010.  Mr Pharo is charged with conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office.

In a third case, sun journalist Jamie Pyatt and pictures editor John Edwards faced similar allegations of corrupt payments between 2002 and 2011.

Finally, sun journalist Nick Parker was accused of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office and prison officer Lee Brockhouse has been charged with misconduct in a public office.

The defendants were all granted bail pending a hearing at the Central Criminal Court on 6 August 2013.