Andy Coulson freed from jail after less than five months behind bars

Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson, who was jailed for conspiracy to hack phones, has been released early.

17:25 21 November 2014

Andy Coulson, the former News of the World editor, has been released from prison after serving just under five months in jail following his conviction of conspiracy to hack phones. He was sentenced to 18 months in July.

The Ministry of Justice has declined to comment on Coulson’s case ahead of the release but some sources within the prison system hinted to the media that he was placed under home detention arrangement.

A spokesman at MoJ relayed: "Public protection is our first priority. Only prisoners who pass a strict risk assessment can be released on home detention curfew (HDC).

"Offenders on HDC are subject to strict licence conditions and can be recalled to prison if they breach them."

Coulson, who also worked as director of communications for Prime Minister David Cameron, was found guilty of plotting to intercept voicemails been 2000 and 2006. He denied all charges against him.

His co-defendants in the high ranks of the newspaper, which include former News International chief Rebekah Brooks, were all cleared of all charges.