A Kent prison officer is to be charged over alleged inappropriate payments to public officials, prosecutors announced today.

Lee Brockhouse, a guard at HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey, faces one count of misconduct in public office and one of conspiracy.

A tabloid journalist is also going to be charged as part of the Metropolitan Police's Operation Elveden.

The Sun's chief foreign correspondent Nick Parker will be charged with three counts of conspiracy, the Crown Proscution Service said.

Brockhouse and Parker will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday, July 11.

The charges allege information provided by Mr Brockhouse related to the movement of prisoners, procedures and methods used by prisoners to smuggle items into prison, the CPS said.

Gregor McGill, a senior lawyer with the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "It is alleged that on two occasions The Sun newspaper paid money to a public official in exchange for the unauthorised disclosure of information to Nick Parker relating to well-known individuals.

"It is also alleged that between 23 April 2007 and 27 October 2009, The Sun newspaper paid £1,750 to prison officer Lee Brockhouse for the unauthorised disclosure of information to Nick Parker.

"Additionally, it is alleged that Lee Brockhouse provided similar information to the People newspaper, for which he was paid £900."

The charges come as part of the Metropolitan Police’s investigation into alleged payments made to public officials by journalists, known as Operation Elveden.

Earlier this month, two prison officers from Kent – aged 26 and 52 – were arrested as part of the operation and later released on police bail pending further inquiries.