Andy Coulson faces fresh charge

Former No. 10 spin doctor Andy Coulson will appear at the Old Bailey in June to face trial over the acquisition of royal directories while he was in charge at the News of the World.

Coulson, 46, and former NotW royal editor Clive Goodman, 57, are jointly charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office in relation to payments to police officers for the books containing palace contacts.

At a brief hearing at which neither defendant was required to attend, Justice Saunders set June 29 for the start of a three-week trial before him at the Old Bailey.

There will be a further case management hearing on a date to be fixed in April.

Father-of-three Coulson and Goodman deny the charges against them. They are on bail.

The first charge states that between August 31, 2002 and January 31, 2003, they conspired together and with persons unknown to commit misconduct in public office.

The second similar charge relates to the period between January 31 and June 3, 2005.