Scotland Yard said the arrest - under Section 1 of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 - relates to a "suspected conspiracy" involving the gathering of data from stolen mobile phones.

BBC: New Scotland Yard sign

Unlike the outing of Horton, the hacking carried out by Sky News seems to have been a carefully considered decision by a senior executive as to whether it was in the public interest to commit a prima facie breach of the Computer Misuse Act.

CNN: Opinion: Why journalists need public interest defense

Mr Martin also faces four charges of obtaining an article for supply for use to commit or to assist in commission of computer misuse, and two of failing to comply with a notice to disclose the key to protected information.

BBC: Lewys Martin of Kent faces Oxbridge cyber attack charges