Andy Coulson jailed for 18 months for conspiracy to hack phones

The disgraced former No 10 spin doctor was found guilty of conspiring to intercept voicemails at the now-defunct Sunday tabloid.

17:27 04 July 2014

Andy Coulson, who was found guilty of conspiring to intercept voicemails at the now-defunct Sunday tabloid News of the World last week, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison following an eight-month trail at the Old Bailey.

The offence carries a maximum of two years but Coulson got a shorter jail term due to his 'good character'. In addition, he is expected serve just half of his sentence as he is considered a 'non-violent offender'.

Mr Justice Saunders last week stated that Coulson clearly thought hacking phones was an absolute must to maintain the News of the World’s “competitive edge.”

The judge 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."

Coulson will be taken to HM Belmarsh prison near Woolwich to be assessed before going to an open prison in a few days.

Meanwhile, David Cameron, who hired Coulson as his director of communications, said that the jail sentence proves that “no-one is above the law.”