29/11/2006

Royal editor pleads guilty to phone-tapping

Clive Goodman, Royal editor of the News of the World, has admitted conspiring to intercept voicemail messages at the Old Bailey.

The 48-year-old journalist, from Putney, south-west London, was arrested following claims made by staff at the Prince of Wales' household that there had been security breaches of the telephone network.

Another man, Glenn Mulcaire, 35, also from south-west London, also appeared in court charged with the same offence. He also admitted to the same charge, as well as five other counts of intercepting voicemail messages belonging to other people, such as publicist Max Clifford and model Elle Macpherson.

Goodman was suspended by the News of the World after he was charged in August. During his time at the paper - more than a decade - he had been responsible for many exclusives and was named Royal Editor of the Year at the Real Press Awards in 2002.

At the Old Bailey on Wednesday, Goodman's counsel said that he apologised to the Prince of Wales, Prince William and Prince Harry for his actions.

(KMcA)

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