'Fake Sheikh' Mazher Mahmood charged with perverting course of justice

Facing charges: Mazher Mahmood (Picture: PA)
Rachel Blundy29 September 2015
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The ex News of the World undercover reporter dubbed the 'Fake Sheikh' is to face court after he was charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice over the collapse of the drugs trial of pop star Tulisa.

Mazher Mahmood is alleged to misled a court in evidence he gave about his investigation into the former N-Dubz star.

Contostavlos, 27, went on trial last year after allegedly brokering a cocaine deal which featured in an expose in the Sun on Sunday following an investigation by Mahmood. She denied a charge of being concerned with the supply of Class A drugs.

Charges dropped: Tulisa (Picture: PA)

In July last year a judge threw out the case at Southwark Crown Court. Contostavlos' rapper friend Mike GLC was also cleared despite admitting supplying half an ounce of the class A drug.

Mahmood is facing trial along with driver Alan Smith.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said today: "This decision comes after it was alleged that Mr Smith agreed with Mr Mahmood to change his statement to police as part of a trial in July 2014, and that Mr Mahmood then misled the court."

The pair, who both deny the allegations against them, are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court tomorrow.

In a statement issued through his lawyers, Mahmood, who has been the subject of a CPS probe since November last year, said: "I am deeply disappointed that, after a totally unjustified delay, the Crown Prosecution Service have today informed me that they have decided to charge me with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

"I deny the offence. I will vigorously contest it at court. In the meantime I have nothing further to say."

Additional reporting by the Press Association

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