Thurlbeck: 'no further action' after intimidation arrest

Police have confirmed a man arrested on 14 March on suspicion of intimidation of a witness, reported at the time to be former News of the World chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck, will face "no further action".

The arrest in March by Operation Weeting, identified by reports at the time as being Thurlbeck, was also on suspicion of encouraging or assisting an offence.

Today the Metropolitan police issued a statement to say that the man returned to a police station today and "was released with no further action".

In a statement issued by a spokesperson Thurlbeck said: "I am pleased the CPS has advised the police that no further action should be taken with regard to an allegation concerning one of my blog postings on nevillethurlbeck.com.

"I'd like to thank my family, friends and colleagues in the industry for their unswerving loyalty, support and continued belief in me.

"And also my lawyer Henri Brandman for his wise counsel."

Thurlbeck had already been arrested on 5 April last year on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications and unlawful interception of voicemail messages.

He was bailed to return to a south-west London police station in May this year in relation to the arrest in April.

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