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'Hundreds' of royal calls tapped Royal editor jailed over tapping
(about 2 hours later)
The News of the World's royal editor tapped into several hundred voicemail messages on the phones of aides to the Royal Family, the Old Bailey has heard. The royal editor of the News of the World has been jailed for four months for plotting to intercept voicemail messages left for royal aides.
Clive Goodman, 49, of Putney, London, and a private investigator are to be sentenced after pleading guilty to plotting to intercept the messages. Clive Goodman, 49, of Putney, London, tapped into several hundred such messages, the Old Bailey heard earlier.
Glenn Mulcaire, 36, of Sutton, Surrey, also hacked into the messages of sport and fashion figures, the court heard. Glenn Mulcaire, 36, of Sutton, Surrey, could also face jail after pleading guilty to the same charge.
The pair had acted for "profit and personal gain", the prosecution said. Private investigator Mr Mulcaire also pleaded guilty to hacking into the messages of sport and fashion figures.
The defendants... were fishing in the voicemail boxes to see whether there might be information of interest to them Prosecutor David Perry QCThe defendants... were fishing in the voicemail boxes to see whether there might be information of interest to them Prosecutor David Perry QC
Prosecutor David Perry QC said the pair had used mobile phone numbers and secret codes used by network operators to hack into the voicemails. Speaking before sentencing, prosecutor David Perry QC said the pair had used mobile phone numbers and secret codes used by network operators to hack into the voicemails.
"The defendants... were fishing in the voicemail boxes to see whether there might be information of interest to them," Mr Perry said."The defendants... were fishing in the voicemail boxes to see whether there might be information of interest to them," Mr Perry said.
Bug sweepBug sweep
The court heard that Mulcaire had hacked into the messages of supermodel Elle Macpherson.The court heard that Mulcaire had hacked into the messages of supermodel Elle Macpherson.
When she suspected messages were being listened to, she was so afraid she had her home swept for bugs, Mr Perry said.When she suspected messages were being listened to, she was so afraid she had her home swept for bugs, Mr Perry said.
Details of the tapping scheme, together with network passwords - including a voicemail pin code for Ms Macpherson - were found in Mulcaire's notebooks.Details of the tapping scheme, together with network passwords - including a voicemail pin code for Ms Macpherson - were found in Mulcaire's notebooks.
On the tapping of royal aides, police were called in after Prince Charles's household became suspicious.On the tapping of royal aides, police were called in after Prince Charles's household became suspicious.
The investigation was originally sparked after Prince William became suspicious about a November 2005 News of the World article concerning his knee injury.The investigation was originally sparked after Prince William became suspicious about a November 2005 News of the World article concerning his knee injury.
Goodman and Mulcaire were arrested at their homes on 8 August last year and charged the following day.Goodman and Mulcaire were arrested at their homes on 8 August last year and charged the following day.
Suspicions arousedSuspicions aroused
Both pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiracy to intercept telephone calls "without lawful authority" between 1 November 2005 and 9 August 2006.Both pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiracy to intercept telephone calls "without lawful authority" between 1 November 2005 and 9 August 2006.
Mulcaire intercepted messages for model Elle MacphersonMulcaire intercepted messages for model Elle Macpherson
The charge relates to messages left for Prince Charles's communication secretary Paddy Harverson, his aide, Helen Asprey, and Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, private secretary to Princes William and Harry.The charge relates to messages left for Prince Charles's communication secretary Paddy Harverson, his aide, Helen Asprey, and Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, private secretary to Princes William and Harry.
Of 609 calls made to access the voice messages on the mobile phones of Mr Harverson, Ms Asprey and Mr Lowther-Pinkerton, 478 were made by Goodman and 122 by Mulcaire, Mr Perry said.Of 609 calls made to access the voice messages on the mobile phones of Mr Harverson, Ms Asprey and Mr Lowther-Pinkerton, 478 were made by Goodman and 122 by Mulcaire, Mr Perry said.
All three realised something was wrong in December 2005 when their new messages were being shown as old, he said.All three realised something was wrong in December 2005 when their new messages were being shown as old, he said.
John Kelsey QC, defending Goodman, said his client was "a man of the highest integrity" who had "departed from a lifetime of high standards".John Kelsey QC, defending Goodman, said his client was "a man of the highest integrity" who had "departed from a lifetime of high standards".
Mr Goodman had been seeking tip-offs upon which make to make further enquiries and had not put the security of the Royal Family at risk, Mr Kelsey said.
His client had been under pressure to come up with stories and "was trying to protect his job", Mr Kelsey added.
"Whilst of course appreciating that what he was doing was improper, unethical and reprehensible, Mr Goodman did not know it amounted to a criminal offence."
'Research services''Research services'
Former professional footballer Mulcaire has also admitted five charges of intercepting mobile phone messages for Ms Macpherson, publicist Max Clifford, MP Simon Hughes, football agent Skylet Andrew and the Professional Footballers' Association's Gordon Taylor.Former professional footballer Mulcaire has also admitted five charges of intercepting mobile phone messages for Ms Macpherson, publicist Max Clifford, MP Simon Hughes, football agent Skylet Andrew and the Professional Footballers' Association's Gordon Taylor.
Mulcaire had signed a contract with the News of the World, dated from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006, for "research and information services", Mr Perry said.Mulcaire had signed a contract with the News of the World, dated from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006, for "research and information services", Mr Perry said.
The contract was worth £104,988 and Mulcaire had also received £12,300 in cash from the newspaper, the prosecutor added.The contract was worth £104,988 and Mulcaire had also received £12,300 in cash from the newspaper, the prosecutor added.
"The inference to be drawn is that he was also motivated by profit, seeking confidential information with a view to selling it to the press," Mr Perry said.
Mr Perry said it was ironic that Mulcaire ran a company - Nine Consultancy - that offered a service protecting clients from media intrusion.Mr Perry said it was ironic that Mulcaire ran a company - Nine Consultancy - that offered a service protecting clients from media intrusion.
Neil Saunders, for Mulcaire, said his client accepted his conduct was morally and ethically wrong and represented "a gross invasion of privacy".Neil Saunders, for Mulcaire, said his client accepted his conduct was morally and ethically wrong and represented "a gross invasion of privacy".
"He now accepts that what he did was illegal," Mr Saunders added.
"However, at the time he did not realise it."