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Andy Coulson jailed for 18 months for conspiracy to hack phones Andy Coulson jailed for 18 months for conspiracy to hack phones
(34 minutes later)
The disgraced former No 10 spin doctor Andy Coulson has been jailed for 18 months for plotting to hack phones while he was in charge of the News of the World.The disgraced former No 10 spin doctor Andy Coulson has been jailed for 18 months for plotting to hack phones while he was in charge of the News of the World.
The 46-year-old was found guilty last week of conspiring to intercept voicemails at the now-defunct Sunday tabloid following an eight-month trial at the Old Bailey.The 46-year-old was found guilty last week of conspiring to intercept voicemails at the now-defunct Sunday tabloid following an eight-month trial at the Old Bailey.
The offence carries a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment, but Coulson received a discount of several months for previous good character.The offence carries a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment, but Coulson received a discount of several months for previous good character.
Mr Justice Saunders told the court the evidence heard in the trial revealed that Coulson clearly thought it was necessary to use phone hacking to maintain the News of the World's "competitive edge".Mr Justice Saunders told the court the evidence heard in the trial revealed that Coulson clearly thought it was necessary to use phone hacking to maintain the News of the World's "competitive edge".
He said the paper's delay in telling police about hacking the voicemail of the missing Surrey schoolgirl Milly Dowler in 2002 showed the motivation was to "take credit for finding her" and sell the maximum number of newspapers.He said the paper's delay in telling police about hacking the voicemail of the missing Surrey schoolgirl Milly Dowler in 2002 showed the motivation was to "take credit for finding her" and sell the maximum number of newspapers.
Saunders said: "Mr Coulson has to take the major shame for the blame of phone hacking at the News of the World. He knew about it, he encouraged it when he should have stopped it." Saunders said: "Mr Coulson has to take the major share for the blame of phone hacking at the News of the World. He knew about it, he encouraged it when he should have stopped it."
Dressed in the grey suit and white shirt combination that he has frequently worn during the trial, Coulson arrived with his QC Timothy Langdale in a London taxi and pushed through the scrum of photographers to enter the court. The judge said there was "insufficient evidence to conclude that he started phone hacking at the News of the World" but there was "ample evidence that it increased enormously while he was editor".
Dressed in the grey suit and white shirt combination he has frequently worn during the trial, Coulson arrived with his QC, Timothy Langdale, in a London taxi and pushed through the scrum of photographers to enter the court.
Coulson's wife Eloise was not present. One of his legal team took his small black holdall to the dock where large suitcases belonging to the other defendants who are also being sentenced sat.Coulson's wife Eloise was not present. One of his legal team took his small black holdall to the dock where large suitcases belonging to the other defendants who are also being sentenced sat.
He will be taken to HM Belmarsh prison near Woolwich at lunchtime where he will be assessed before being sent to an open prison in a few days.He will be taken to HM Belmarsh prison near Woolwich at lunchtime where he will be assessed before being sent to an open prison in a few days.
The high-security prison is home to terrorists and other category A prisoners, but has a separate wing dealing with local offenders sentenced at the Old Bailey, which is where Coulson and his co-defendants will go.The high-security prison is home to terrorists and other category A prisoners, but has a separate wing dealing with local offenders sentenced at the Old Bailey, which is where Coulson and his co-defendants will go.
Three former news editors of the paper – all of whom pleaded guilty to taking part in a conspiracy to intercept voicemail messages of royals, celebrities, politicians, sports stars and victims of crime between 2000 and 2006 – were also sentenced.Three former news editors of the paper – all of whom pleaded guilty to taking part in a conspiracy to intercept voicemail messages of royals, celebrities, politicians, sports stars and victims of crime between 2000 and 2006 – were also sentenced.
Greg Miskiw, 64, who hired the private investigator turned phone hacker Glenn Mulcaire to work for the paper in 2001, was jailed for six months. Greg Miskiw, 64, who hired the private investigator-turned phone hacker Glenn Mulcaire to work for the paper in 2001, was jailed for six months.
Neville Thurlbeck, 52, the paper's former chief reporter and news editor who conspired to hack the phone of former home secretary David Blunkett, also got six months.Neville Thurlbeck, 52, the paper's former chief reporter and news editor who conspired to hack the phone of former home secretary David Blunkett, also got six months.
James Weatherup, who joined the paper in 2004 and admitted tasking Mulcaire to hack phones, was handed a 12-month suspended sentence.James Weatherup, who joined the paper in 2004 and admitted tasking Mulcaire to hack phones, was handed a 12-month suspended sentence.
The paper's former specialist hacker, Glenn Mulcaire, 43, a footballer turned investigator who had been jailed for phone hacking royal aides in 2007, was also sentenced. He had pleaded guilty to a second set of charges last year, including the hacking Dowler's phone. The paper's former specialist hacker, Glenn Mulcaire, 43, a footballer-turned investigator who had been jailed for hacking the phones of royal aides in 2007, was also sentenced. He had pleaded guilty to a second set of charges last year, including the hacking of Dowler's phone.
Coulson, Miskiw and Thurlbeck were taken down following the sentencing. All three were emotionless and the public gallery was silent. Weatherup and Mulcaire were able to walk free.Coulson, Miskiw and Thurlbeck were taken down following the sentencing. All three were emotionless and the public gallery was silent. Weatherup and Mulcaire were able to walk free.
Saunders rejected the argument offered by Mulcaire's lawyers in mitigation that he thought he was helping the police by hacking her phone. He was handed a six-month sentence that was suspended for 12 months; Saunders told him: "Mr Mulcaire you are truly the lucky one". Saunders rejected the argument offered by Mulcaire's lawyers in mitigation that he thought he was helping the police by hacking her phone. He was handed a six-month sentence that was suspended for 12 months; Saunders told him: "Mr Mulcaire, you are truly the lucky one".
The judge also said: "All the journalists in the dock are distinguished. There was no need for hacking. Their achievements now count for nothing".The judge also said: "All the journalists in the dock are distinguished. There was no need for hacking. Their achievements now count for nothing".
The sentencing of the five comes three years to the day since the Guardian revealed someone acting on behalf of the News of the World had hacked Dowler's phone in 2002. The sentencing of the five comes three years to the day since the Guardian revealed that someone acting on behalf of the News of the World had hacked Dowler's phone in 2002.
During the trial Coulson denied being party to hacking or to knowledge that Dowler's phone had been hacked by Mulcaire. During the trial, Coulson denied being party to hacking or to knowledge that Dowler's phone had been hacked by Mulcaire.
However he admitted listening to the hacked messages Blunkett left on a married woman's phone – an admission that is likely to have been central to the jury's decision to find him guilty. However, he admitted listening to the hacked messages Blunkett left on a married woman's phone – an admission that is likely to have been central to the jury's decision to find him guilty.
He also said he did not know at the time that hacking was a crime and that if he knew any of his staff were involved in the unlawful activity he would have viewed it as "intrusive" and "lazy journalism".He also said he did not know at the time that hacking was a crime and that if he knew any of his staff were involved in the unlawful activity he would have viewed it as "intrusive" and "lazy journalism".
Hacking was made an offence under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, which was drawn up to govern law enforcement agencies' use of surveillance.Hacking was made an offence under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, which was drawn up to govern law enforcement agencies' use of surveillance.
The prosecution said that Coulson and the news editors had "utterly corrupted" the News of the World and turned it into a "thoroughly criminal enterprise".The prosecution said that Coulson and the news editors had "utterly corrupted" the News of the World and turned it into a "thoroughly criminal enterprise".
Crown prosecutor Andrew Edis QC said the phone-hacking victims of the now-defunct Sunday tabloid "read like a Who's Who of Britain in the first five years of this century".Crown prosecutor Andrew Edis QC said the phone-hacking victims of the now-defunct Sunday tabloid "read like a Who's Who of Britain in the first five years of this century".