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Why Charlie Brooks drank a bottle of Fairy Liquid and other things we've learned about him Why Charlie Brooks drank a bottle of Fairy Liquid and other things we've learned about him
(about 2 hours later)
Charlie Brooks, the racehorse trainer – and husband of former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks – has been cleared on the charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in the phone hacking trial at the Old Bailey. Here are 10 things we learned about him in the process: Charlie Brooks, the racehorse trainer – and husband of former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks, has been cleared on the charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in the phone hacking trial at the Old Bailey. Here are 10 things we learned about him in the process:
1. A character witness, Sara Bradstock, the daughter of the now deceased former jockey and BBC commentator Lord Oaksey, described an incident in 1986 in which she found Brooks "frothing at the mouth looking close to death one morning, only to discover that he had not been bitten by a rabid dog, but had drunk a pint of Fairy Liquid to try and rid himself of the excesses of the night before".1. A character witness, Sara Bradstock, the daughter of the now deceased former jockey and BBC commentator Lord Oaksey, described an incident in 1986 in which she found Brooks "frothing at the mouth looking close to death one morning, only to discover that he had not been bitten by a rabid dog, but had drunk a pint of Fairy Liquid to try and rid himself of the excesses of the night before".
2. The excesses were not of alcohol, but food.2. The excesses were not of alcohol, but food.
3. While trying to be selected as a rider for Chepstow, Brooks bulked up by eating a whole roast chicken and two packets of Weetabix the night before.3. While trying to be selected as a rider for Chepstow, Brooks bulked up by eating a whole roast chicken and two packets of Weetabix the night before.
4. He then intended to "flip" (as they say in US racing circles) the contents of his stomach. First he tried to bring it all up by tickling his throat with the tail feather of a pheasant. Yes, a pheasant. And when that didn't work …4. He then intended to "flip" (as they say in US racing circles) the contents of his stomach. First he tried to bring it all up by tickling his throat with the tail feather of a pheasant. Yes, a pheasant. And when that didn't work …
5. … he remembered James Herriot had once used Fairy Liquid on a dog who had consumed rat poison. So he drank a bottle.5. … he remembered James Herriot had once used Fairy Liquid on a dog who had consumed rat poison. So he drank a bottle.
6. That also didn't work: Brooks wasn't selected.6. That also didn't work: Brooks wasn't selected.
7. His previous business enterprises include: a "dreadful column" in the London Evening Standard before he met Rebekah Brooks, as well as some efforts at GQ magazine, which, he said, killed "every bone of creativity" in his body.7. His previous business enterprises include: a "dreadful column" in the London Evening Standard before he met Rebekah Brooks, as well as some efforts at GQ magazine, which, he said, killed "every bone of creativity" in his body.
8. He also attempted a book-writing career (one idea was to be "a Bill Bryson, but for horses"; another novel was to be about a "Hooray Henry who had fallen in love with a Russian hooker").8. He also attempted a book-writing career (one idea was to be "a Bill Bryson, but for horses"; another novel was to be about a "Hooray Henry who had fallen in love with a Russian hooker").
9. Fearing a "Jacqui Smith moment", he hid DVDs of lesbian porn in a Jiffy bag behind some bins. "I envisaged 20 policemen coming in and emptying every drawer and looking under every nook and cranny, and I did think about my DVDs," he said. He also hid a laptop that "had a bit of smut on it too". Of the porn, he said: "I was a bachelor."9. Fearing a "Jacqui Smith moment", he hid DVDs of lesbian porn in a Jiffy bag behind some bins. "I envisaged 20 policemen coming in and emptying every drawer and looking under every nook and cranny, and I did think about my DVDs," he said. He also hid a laptop that "had a bit of smut on it too". Of the porn, he said: "I was a bachelor."
10. He and a friend, Chris Palmer, drank six bottles of wine on the night his wife, Rebekah Brooks, was arrested. Brooks described the pair's pizza and garlic bread order as necessary "blotting paper".10. He and a friend, Chris Palmer, drank six bottles of wine on the night his wife, Rebekah Brooks, was arrested. Brooks described the pair's pizza and garlic bread order as necessary "blotting paper".