Gordon Taylor voicemail transcripts 'sent to News of the World journalist'

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/nov/13/gordon-taylor-news-world-phone-hacking-trial-pfa

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Transcripts of voice messages left for Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, were emailed to former News of the World news editor Ian Edmondson, the Old Bailey has been told.

Taylor was targeted by private investigator Glenn Mulcaire in 2005, though no story was published, the jury in the phone-hacking trial heard.

The PFA chief executive later identified 76 messages left for him from recordings seized from Mulcaire's home by police. Jo Armstrong, a lawyer at the PFA, also had her mobile phone hacked, the court heard.

One email, dated 11 May 2005, that was sent from Mulcaire to News of the World journalist Neville Thurlbeck, who sent it to Edmondson and James Weatherup on the paper's news desk, said: "It's a splash any day of the week! Get Derek on to it. We know it's happening."

Underneath were transcripts of a series of voicemail messages to Taylor. The jury was told the transcripts had been typed up by a News of the World secretary and emailed to Mulcaire.

Another email, on 29 June 2005, and sent by Ross Hindley, a reporter on the paper, to Thurlbeck, began: "Hello, this is a transcript for Neville. I have copied the text in below email and also attached in full as a Word document." It contained several transcripts of Taylor's voicemails, the prosecution said.

An undated contract was found at Mulcaire's home. The court heard it was an agreement relating to the Taylor story signed by Edmondson. "Essentially what this is saying is that if the News of the World had not published the information by 17 July 2005 then the contributors are free to take the information to another media group," said Andrew Edis, prosecuting.

Ukip leader Nigel Farage was also targeted by Mulcaire over allegations of an affair in January 2006, the prosecution said.

Phone records showed on 27 January 2006 Mulcaire hacked Farage's mobile three times before calling Edmondson, said Edis. A few minutes later, Farage's mobile was then hacked from a News International number, the prosecutor added.

The court was told of an audio recording of Mulcaire "blagging" the network provider O2 to request a pin reset on Farage's mobile phone.

Edmondson denies alleged conspiracy to intercept voicemail messages. The jury has been told Mulcaire, Thurlbeck and Weatherup has pleaded guilty to charges relating to phone hacking.

Rebekah Brooks, former chief executive of News International, Andy Coulson, the former News of the World editor, and Stuart Kuttner, the paper's former managing editor, deny charges relating to alleged conspiracy to listen to mobile phone voicemails. Brooks and Coulson also deny conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office, a charge also denied by Clive Goodman, former royal editor of the News of the World.

Brooks is also charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, as is her husband Charlie, her former PA Cheryl Carter and News International head of security Mark Hanna. All deny the charges.

The trial continues.

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