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Hacking trial: Charlie Brooks hid 'smut' from police because he feared a 'Jacqui Smith moment' Hacking trial: Charlie Brooks hid 'smut' from police because he feared a 'Jacqui Smith moment'
(35 minutes later)
Charlie Brooks, the husband of the former News International chief executive feared a “Jacqui Smith moment” and believed police investigating phone hacking would discover his personal collection of “smut” unless he took steps to hide it, a jury at the Old Bailey has heard.Charlie Brooks, the husband of the former News International chief executive feared a “Jacqui Smith moment” and believed police investigating phone hacking would discover his personal collection of “smut” unless he took steps to hide it, a jury at the Old Bailey has heard.
Mr Brooks told the hacking trial that he did not want to follow the husband of the former home secretary, who had embarrassed his politician wife when an expenses claim for pornographic videos had been uncovered and made public.  Mr Brooks told the hacking trial that he did not want to follow the husband of the former home secretary, who had embarrassed his politician wife when an expenses claim for pornographic videos had been uncovered and made public.  
Mr Brooks said there was a good chance that officers from the Metropolitan Police would conduct a detailed search at the Chelsea and Oxfordshire homes he shared with his wife, Rebekah Brooks.Mr Brooks said there was a good chance that officers from the Metropolitan Police would conduct a detailed search at the Chelsea and Oxfordshire homes he shared with his wife, Rebekah Brooks.
He told the court that his attempt to keep embarrassing material from falling into the police’s hands involved removing a Sony computer and a jiffy bag containing pornographic DVDs from his Chelsea Harbour home, and then deliberately hiding them behind a large bin container in the underground car park of the riverside apartment block.He told the court that his attempt to keep embarrassing material from falling into the police’s hands involved removing a Sony computer and a jiffy bag containing pornographic DVDs from his Chelsea Harbour home, and then deliberately hiding them behind a large bin container in the underground car park of the riverside apartment block.
The jury was shown footage of Mr. Brooks deliberately hiding the DVDs
The computer contained work on book ideas, and some "smut". The DVDs, he told the jury, were of an "embarrassing nature". Mr Brooks has previously told the court that the material came from his “bachelor days” before he had met and married Mrs Brooks.The computer contained work on book ideas, and some "smut". The DVDs, he told the jury, were of an "embarrassing nature". Mr Brooks has previously told the court that the material came from his “bachelor days” before he had met and married Mrs Brooks.
Describing his actions as “stupidly rash”, the jury were told that they occurred in days leading to Mrs Brooks' arrest at a London police station. She was questioned in connection with Operation Weeting, Scotland Yard’s specialist phone hacking investigation.Describing his actions as “stupidly rash”, the jury were told that they occurred in days leading to Mrs Brooks' arrest at a London police station. She was questioned in connection with Operation Weeting, Scotland Yard’s specialist phone hacking investigation.
He told the jury that he had imagined "20 policemen coming in [to the Chelsea flat] and emptying every drawer and looking under every nook and cranny".He told the jury that he had imagined "20 policemen coming in [to the Chelsea flat] and emptying every drawer and looking under every nook and cranny".
He said fear of the “Jacqui Smith moment” had been dominant in his thoughts. In 2009 Mrs Smith’s husband involved his wife in the emerging MPs expenses scandal after two adult DVDS had been noticed on of her claims.He said fear of the “Jacqui Smith moment” had been dominant in his thoughts. In 2009 Mrs Smith’s husband involved his wife in the emerging MPs expenses scandal after two adult DVDS had been noticed on of her claims.
Mr Brooks, 51, is charged with conspiring with his wife and others to conceal computers, documents and other material from the police in July 2011. He denies the charge. He also told the court he did not involve his wife’s security staff in helping him get rid of any computers on the way to London from their Oxfordshire home on the day she was arrested.Mr Brooks, 51, is charged with conspiring with his wife and others to conceal computers, documents and other material from the police in July 2011. He denies the charge. He also told the court he did not involve his wife’s security staff in helping him get rid of any computers on the way to London from their Oxfordshire home on the day she was arrested.
He said that eventually, when he had to tell his wife what had happened, “she went ballistic”.He said that eventually, when he had to tell his wife what had happened, “she went ballistic”.
The trial continues. The defendants deny all charges.The trial continues. The defendants deny all charges.