James Bond actor Daniel Craig allegedly had his phone hacked by NOTW journalists. Photograph by Caroline Bonarde Ucci
Former News of the World (NOTW) editor and Downing Street communications director, Andy Coulson, knew that the paper has obtained information about an affair between Daniel Craig and Sienna Miller illegally, the hacking trial at the Old Bailey has heard.
Coulson was allegedly played a tape recording of a voicemail message left by Miller for Craig saying:
“Hi, its me. I can’t speak, I’m at the Groucho with Jude. I love you.”
This message had been hacked from Craig’s voicemail by Dan Evans, a NOTW reporter during Coulson’s reign as editor of the tabloid.
The court heard Evans’ account of the incident in which Coulson “became very animated” upon hearing the recording and advised on possible methods to obscure the fact that it had been obtained through illegal phone hacking. A copy of the tape was allegedly made of the tape and posted to the front desk of the NOTW offices in Wapping in a jiffy bag, as if it was leaked anonymously by a friend or close aide, and then security staff would then ring upstairs and say the package had arrived anonymously.
Evans later told the court that he took steps to destroy all evidence that linked him to phone hacking after the arrests of NOTW-linked private investigator Glenn Mulcaire and former NOTW royal correspondent Clive Goodman.
Coulson, and the NOTW editor he replaced, Rebekah Brooks, currently face charges of conspiracy to hack mobile phones, which they both deny.
