A Cheshire intelligence analyst and two others have been charged with perverting the course of justice as part of an IOPC investigation.

A Cheshire staff officer has been charged with two offences after an investigation by the National Crime Agency and the IOPC.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct said Natalie Mottram, 22, has been charged with four offences including unauthorised access to computer material and perverting the course of justice.

She will appear in court next month.

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

Two members of the public have also been charged with perverting the course of justice.

A charge has been authorised but not yet served in relation to a third.

The alleged offences were identified by the NCA as part of Operation Venetic, the UK’s part of the investigation into the encrypted communications platform EncroChat.

Four people were arrested in June 2020 and the Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the charges.

Details of the charges are as follows

• Natalie Mottram, 22, based in Warrington, has been charged with four counts of unauthorised access to computer material and one of perverting the course of justice
• Jonathan Kay, 36, of Great Sankey, Warrington, 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.
• Leah Bennett, 36, of Great Sankey, Warrington, has been charged with perverting the course of justice.

All three are due to appear at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on 8 June.