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Phone hacking trial: Andy Coulson begins evidence Phone-hacking trial: Andy Coulson says affair was wrong
(35 minutes later)
Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson has begun giving evidence in the phone-hacking trial. Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson denied his affair with Rebekah Brooks breached professional standards.
He is the last of seven defendants - who deny all charges against them - to take to the witness box. Mr Coulson said it was "wrong" and "shouldn't have happened" as he gave evidence in the phone-hacking trial for the first time.
Mr Coulson told the Old Bailey jury he had not spoken to David Cameron since shortly after resigning as Downing Street director of communications. But he told the Old Bailey jury the pair's closeness had not unduly affected their working relationship.
The 46-year-old denies conspiracy to hack phones and conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office. Mr Coulson, 46, denies conspiracy to hack phones and conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.
He arrived at court hand-in-hand with wife Eloise Patrick before taking to the witness box.
He was the last of seven defendants, who deny all charges against them, to do so.
'Closeness'
Mr Coulson said the affair with Mrs Brooks started in 1998 but was "not by any means continual" and that there were "very long periods" in which they remained friends and colleagues.
He told the court: "I don't want to minimise it or excuse it.
"It was wrong and it shouldn't have happened and I take my full share of responsibility for the pain it has caused other people, not least my wife."
The pair had first got to know each other in 1996, becoming professional colleagues two years later when Mrs Brooks was made The Sun's deputy editor.
Mr Coulson was editor of the News of the World from 2003 to 2007, having previously been Mrs Brooks's deputy at the newspaper.
Mr Coulson's counsel Timothy Langdale QC said: "In particular, it has been suggested as a result of the closeness of your relationship you would share sensitive or exclusive stories."
But father-of-three Mr Coulson replied: "No, that did not happen. With the caveat, unless on very particular occasions there was a pre-determined deal when there was a share between the two papers."
Mrs Brooks denies conspiracy to hack phones, conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Mr Coulson also told the Old Bailey jury he had not spoken to David Cameron since shortly after resigning as Downing Street director of communications.
The court heard Mr Coulson's and Mr Cameron's families had spent a weekend together following his 2011 resignation.The court heard Mr Coulson's and Mr Cameron's families had spent a weekend together following his 2011 resignation.
Asked by his counsel Timothy Langdale QC if the invitation to stay with the Camerons had been made before he stepped down, he replied: "That's right, I haven't spoken to him since." When Mr Langdale asked if the invitation to stay with the Camerons had been made before he stepped down, he replied: "That's right, I haven't spoken to him since."
Air force planAir force plan
Mr Coulson, of Charing, Kent, told the jury of his career in journalism, saying he "fell in love" with it as a teenager.Mr Coulson, of Charing, Kent, told the jury of his career in journalism, saying he "fell in love" with it as a teenager.
He said: "I was all set to join the air force - my father was in the air force and one of my brothers.He said: "I was all set to join the air force - my father was in the air force and one of my brothers.
"I got some work experience on the local paper via a friend and fell in love with it, really.""I got some work experience on the local paper via a friend and fell in love with it, really."
When he left school at 18, he started work at the Basildon Evening Echo and then went on to the Sun at the age of 21. From there, he moved to the News of the World.When he left school at 18, he started work at the Basildon Evening Echo and then went on to the Sun at the age of 21. From there, he moved to the News of the World.
He was editor of the Sunday tabloid from 2003 to 2007, having previously been co-defendant Rebekah Brooks's deputy.
He was in charge of the newspaper in 2002, when murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone was hacked, as Mrs Brooks was on holiday, the court has heard.He was in charge of the newspaper in 2002, when murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone was hacked, as Mrs Brooks was on holiday, the court has heard.
Mr Coulson, a father-of-three, resigned from the News of the World following the conviction of the tabloid's former royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire for phone hacking.Mr Coulson, a father-of-three, resigned from the News of the World following the conviction of the tabloid's former royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire for phone hacking.
He then became director of communications and planning for the Conservative Party. Following the 2010 general election he became Prime Minister David Cameron's director of communications.He then became director of communications and planning for the Conservative Party. Following the 2010 general election he became Prime Minister David Cameron's director of communications.
He resigned from that position in January 2011 and was arrested in connection with phone hacking in July that year, before being charged in July 2012.He resigned from that position in January 2011 and was arrested in connection with phone hacking in July that year, before being charged in July 2012.
Mr Coulson denies one count of conspiring with Mrs Brooks, former News of the World managing editor Stuart Kuttner and others to hack phones between 2000 and 2006.Mr Coulson denies one count of conspiring with Mrs Brooks, former News of the World managing editor Stuart Kuttner and others to hack phones between 2000 and 2006.
He also denies two counts of conspiring with Goodman and others to commit misconduct in a public office.He also denies two counts of conspiring with Goodman and others to commit misconduct in a public office.