Three Charged Over Tottenham Hotspur Olympic Stadium Bid Spying Claims

Three people have been charged with fraud following allegations that they unlawfully obtained information linked to Tottenham Hotspur's failed bid to take over the Olympic Stadium.

West Ham United and the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) previously claimed information about the bid was illegally acquired.

OPLC chair Margaret Ford alleged all 14 members of her board were monitored by private investigators hired by Tottenham. The north London club denied the accusations .

Howard Hill, 58, a senior investigator hired by Tottenham Hotspur to help with their bid, has now been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.

Richard Forrest, 30, of, Crawley, and Lee Stewart, 39, of Esher, have also been charged with the same offence. All three men are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 28 November.

Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Leyton Orient all submitted bids to use of the 80,000-capacity stadium after the 2012 Olympic Games.

West Ham appeared to have won the right to move into the stadium, but a deal between the Hammers and Newham Council collapsed in October 2011.

The London Legacy Development Corporation has now confirmed the stadium will not re-open until 2015 at the earliest, two years later than expected.