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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Andy Coulson leaves prison after serving five months of 18-month term | Andy Coulson leaves prison after serving five months of 18-month term |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Andy Coulson, the former News of the World editor and Downing Street communications boss, has been released from prison. | Andy Coulson, the former News of the World editor and Downing Street communications boss, has been released from prison. |
| Coulson, 46, served less than five months of an 18-month term imposed in July after he was found guilty of conspiring to intercept voicemails at the now-defunct Sunday tabloid following an eight-month trial at the Old Bailey. He said nothing to reporters as he left Hollesley Bay, an open prison in Suffolk, at 8am on Friday. | |
| It is understood Coulson will have to wear an electronic tag until he has served half of his full sentence as a condition of his early release. | It is understood Coulson will have to wear an electronic tag until he has served half of his full sentence as a condition of his early release. |
| The Ministry of Justice declined to comment on Coulson’s case but said prisoners could be released under home detention curfew (HDC) arrangements. | |
| A spokesman said: “Public protection is our first priority. Only prisoners who pass a strict risk assessment can be released on HDC. Offenders on HDC are subject to strict licence conditions and can be recalled to prison if they breach them.” | A spokesman said: “Public protection is our first priority. Only prisoners who pass a strict risk assessment can be released on HDC. Offenders on HDC are subject to strict licence conditions and can be recalled to prison if they breach them.” |
| Prisoners can be considered for HDC if they are serving a sentence of more than three months and less than four years, and have served a quarter of their sentence. | Prisoners can be considered for HDC if they are serving a sentence of more than three months and less than four years, and have served a quarter of their sentence. |
| Coulson was previously held at HMP Belmarsh in south-east London but it was reported in September that he had been moved to Hollesley Bay to serve the rest of his term. | |
| In August, Scottish prosecutors formally charged Coulson with three counts of perjury over the Tommy Sheridan trial; he is accused of lying while giving evidence in December 2010. | In August, Scottish prosecutors formally charged Coulson with three counts of perjury over the Tommy Sheridan trial; he is accused of lying while giving evidence in December 2010. |
| In June, the prime minister, David Cameron, apologised for hiring Coulson just weeks after he left News of the World, adding that he had been assured that Coulson had not hacked phones. | In June, the prime minister, David Cameron, apologised for hiring Coulson just weeks after he left News of the World, adding that he had been assured that Coulson had not hacked phones. |