Police confiscate passport from Brooks' assistant
Wednesday 15 February 2012
Related articles
The executive personal assistant to Rebekah Brooks, the former chief executive of News International, has had her passport confiscated, been separated from her family and been forced to postpone a new career with Rupert Murdoch's media empire in Australia following her arrest as part of the phone-hacking affair.
Cheryl Carter, who was arrested last month by officers from Scotland Yard's Operation Weeting team, which was set up to investigate phone hacking at the News of the World, had been preparing to fly to Australia at the end of January to start a new life with News Ltd, part of News Corp.
But following her arrest and further questioning, police have told her to remain in the UK. Her husband and family are understood to have flown to Australia to meet visa requirements.
Ms Carter, 47, was the 17th person to be held by the Operation Weeting team. She was arrested at her home in Billericay, Essex, only days before she and her husband and two children were due to leave for Australia. She worked directly for Ms Brooks for many years and is understood to have left NI shortly after the former chief executive resigned from the company in the summer.
Sources at NI said that she had been planning to move to Australia for many years. But other colleagues were surprised at Ms Carter's planned departure and that she was able to get a visa from the Australian authorities.
"Cheryl is an Essex girl through and through and devoted to her family," said one. "It's quite difficult to get to Australia and Cheryl is a make-up expert – she doesn't exactly have expert skills."
Ms Carter worked for Ms Brooks for 19 years and was intimate with her working arrangements. She was PA to Ms Brooks as she climbed the ladder at NI, being appointed News of the World editor in 2000, Sun editor in 2003, and then NI chief executive in 2009.
Ms Carter was also a beauty editor for The Sun and is a partner in a cosmetics business with former model and celebrity make-up artist Sue Moxley, and has also offered beauty tips on the website Thinkingslimmer.com.
In recent weeks, police have arrested a succession of senior journalists at The Sun as part of the Operation Elveden inquiry into alleged bribery of public officials. In a backlash led by the paper's assistant editor, Trevor Kavanagh, complaints have been made that the arrests, which have included the ripping up of floorboards and the searching of children's possessions, have amounted to a "witch-hunt".
News Corp's Management & Standards Committee, which is working alongside the police in identifying potential criminality, has made representations to Scotland Yard asking that officers are less aggressive when carrying out raids on the homes of journalists. The Yard has defended the raids as proportionate and necessary.
-
Jeremy Paxman reveals he has heard senior Tories calling activists 'swivel-eyed loons'
-
Gay couple beaten in park urge MPs to moderate language on gay marriage
-
Strewth mate. Aussies wave goodbye to Britain as it becomes too pricey to stay
-
X marks the spot: The find that could rewrite Australian history
-
Oklahoma tornado latest: Obama pledges support for 'as long as it takes' to rebuild the suburb of Moore
- 1 'He was lucky he didn't die' - George Michael fell out of speeding car onto M1 motorway, according to eye witness
- 2 Austerity has hardened the nation's heart
- 3 Gay couple beaten in park urge MPs to moderate language on gay marriage
- 4 Why Arsène Wenger must spend to put icing on the cake and buy likes of Stevan Jovetic for Arsenal
- 5 'It was just like the movie Twister': Man survives Oklahoma tornado by taking refuge in horse stall
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
Visit York
Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Independent Dating
iJobs General
Sap Bi And Sap Epm And Sap Eim
Negotiable: Progressive Recruitment: SAP BI Specialist - Contract - 6 Months -...
Sap Bi And Sap Epm And Sap Eim
Negotiable: Progressive Recruitment: SAP BI, SAP BO, SAP EPM, SAP EIM, Contrac...
BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE SAP SENIOR CONSULTANT
£50000 - £56000 per annum: Progressive Recruitment: BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE SAP ...
Programme Change Manager
£850 - £1000 per day: Orgtel: Programme Change Manager - Banking - London - £8...
Day In a Page
The price of pacifism
Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond
Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?
Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing
Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'






