A CHESHIRE Police employee has been charged with perverting the course of justice.

Natalie Mottram, of Vermont Close in Chapelford, has been charged alongside two members of the public from the town following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct and the National Crime Agency.

The 22-year-old was on a secondment to the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit as an intelligence analyst at the time of the alleged offences.

She has also been charged with unauthorised access to a computer, and is currently suspended from duties.

Thirty-six-year-old Leah Bennett, of Newark Drive in Chapelford, has also been charged with perverting the course of justice.

And 36-year-old Jonathan Kay, also of Newark Drive, has been charged with perverting the course of justice and two counts of failing to comply with a notice under the Section 49 Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

All three are due to appear before Warrington Magistrates Court next month in order to faces these charges.

A further charge has been authorised but not yet served in relation to a fourth suspect, who has not been named.

All four were initially arrested during a series of armed police raids on the evening of June 12 last year.

Search warrants were executed at address on Vermont Close and Newark Drive, as well as on Dingleway in Appleton.

The investigation relates to Operation Venetic, which led to the takedown of EncroChat – an encrypted messaging service commonly utilised by criminals.

Nikki Holland, NCA director of investigations, said: “Working with our partners, we acted swiftly to investigate and conduct these arrests.

“UK law enforcement takes corruption allegations extremely seriously to catch anyone who betrays the trust placed in them.”

Assistant chief constable Chris Green, head of the NWROCU, added: “We have worked closely throughout this investigation with the IOPC and the NCA, Cheshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service.

“As a result of the investigation, carried out by the NCA under the direction and control of the IOPC, a member of police staff and two members of the public have been charged and we await the outcome of the legal process.”

Cheshire Police said that it 'acknowledged' the CPS' charging decision.

Deputy chief constable Julie Cooke said: “Throughout this investigation we have worked closely with the NCA, NWROCU and the IOPC and acknowledge the decision that has been reached by the CPS."