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'Fake Sheikh Mazher Mahmood entrapped victims' 'Fake Sheikh Mazher Mahmood entrapped victims'
(about 2 hours later)
A former associate of undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood - the "Fake Sheikh" - has told the BBC's Panorama programme how they created newspaper stories to target celebrities unfairly.A former associate of undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood - the "Fake Sheikh" - has told the BBC's Panorama programme how they created newspaper stories to target celebrities unfairly.
Steve Grayson described entrapping the targets, including a Page Three glamour model the pair accused of drug dealing.Steve Grayson described entrapping the targets, including a Page Three glamour model the pair accused of drug dealing.
An ex-attorney general told Panorama Mr Mahmood's record should be re-examined.An ex-attorney general told Panorama Mr Mahmood's record should be re-examined.
Mr Mahmood told the BBC he used legitimate investigatory methods and brought many individuals to justice.Mr Mahmood told the BBC he used legitimate investigatory methods and brought many individuals to justice.
The reporter said he had helped secure about 100 convictions during his 30-year career at newspapers including the News of the World and Sunday Times.The reporter said he had helped secure about 100 convictions during his 30-year career at newspapers including the News of the World and Sunday Times.
Bikini calendarBikini calendar
Grayson worked with Mr Mahmood on numerous stories in the 1990s.Grayson worked with Mr Mahmood on numerous stories in the 1990s.
One involved Page Three glamour model Emma Morgan, whom the pair led to believe she was being offered a lucrative contract for a Middle East bikini calendar.One involved Page Three glamour model Emma Morgan, whom the pair led to believe she was being offered a lucrative contract for a Middle East bikini calendar.
But Mr Mahmood really wanted a story exposing her as a major drug pusher and had hired a man called Billy to assist.But Mr Mahmood really wanted a story exposing her as a major drug pusher and had hired a man called Billy to assist.
"He is a drug dealer, we're drug dealers, we have paid this guy to supply the drugs to give to her," Grayson said."He is a drug dealer, we're drug dealers, we have paid this guy to supply the drugs to give to her," Grayson said.
Ms Morgan, who was 24 at the time, said she had been put under pressure for several hours to supply cocaine.Ms Morgan, who was 24 at the time, said she had been put under pressure for several hours to supply cocaine.
She had been asked to pick some up from Billy and give it to Mr Mahmood, which she had done.She had been asked to pick some up from Billy and give it to Mr Mahmood, which she had done.
Billy told Panorama: "The only real criminal was Mazher Mahmood, he gave me the money to buy the cocaine."Billy told Panorama: "The only real criminal was Mazher Mahmood, he gave me the money to buy the cocaine."
Ms Morgan said: "I was a fool, I was naive. To be foolish isn't a crime, to be naive isn't a crime, to do what he did is criminal.Ms Morgan said: "I was a fool, I was naive. To be foolish isn't a crime, to be naive isn't a crime, to do what he did is criminal.
"I haven't had the career I should have had. I haven't had the life I should have had. He's a horrible, horrible man.""I haven't had the career I should have had. I haven't had the life I should have had. He's a horrible, horrible man."
Mr Mahmood denied acting improperly and said Panorama's account of events was wrong and misleading.Mr Mahmood denied acting improperly and said Panorama's account of events was wrong and misleading.
'Livelihoods damaged''Livelihoods damaged'
Solicitor Mark Lewis, who helped expose phone hacking at the News of the World, is representing some of Mr Mahmood's victims.Solicitor Mark Lewis, who helped expose phone hacking at the News of the World, is representing some of Mr Mahmood's victims.
He told Panorama: "The damage that's caused, the damage for people's livelihoods, the amount of people have sent to prison, it's a far more serious thing than phone hacking ever was." He told Panorama: "The damage that's caused, the damage for people's livelihoods, the amount of people sent to prison, it's a far more serious thing than phone hacking ever was."
Some of Mr Mahmood's targets - including the former Grange Hill and London's Burning actor John Alford - were prosecuted and jailed based on his evidence.Some of Mr Mahmood's targets - including the former Grange Hill and London's Burning actor John Alford - were prosecuted and jailed based on his evidence.
But Mr Mahmood is currently suspended from the Sun on Sunday following the collapse of a trial involving singer Tulisa Contostavlos.But Mr Mahmood is currently suspended from the Sun on Sunday following the collapse of a trial involving singer Tulisa Contostavlos.
The judge said there were strong grounds for believing Mr Mahmood had lied to the court to conceal the fact he had manipulated evidence.The judge said there were strong grounds for believing Mr Mahmood had lied to the court to conceal the fact he had manipulated evidence.
Former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith told Panorama Mr Mahmood's record needed to be re-examined.Former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith told Panorama Mr Mahmood's record needed to be re-examined.
"The fact that somebody who has been accused by a judge of apparently of not telling the truth may be instrumental in those convictions would certainly be a reason to look at those convictions again and to examine them to see whether they are safe," he said."The fact that somebody who has been accused by a judge of apparently of not telling the truth may be instrumental in those convictions would certainly be a reason to look at those convictions again and to examine them to see whether they are safe," he said.
Following the collapse of Ms Contostavlos's trial, the Crown Prosecution Service said it had identified three cases involving evidence from Mr Mahmood where there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.Following the collapse of Ms Contostavlos's trial, the Crown Prosecution Service said it had identified three cases involving evidence from Mr Mahmood where there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.
It said no-one was currently in prison on the strength of the reporter's evidence, but it was also looking at past cases.It said no-one was currently in prison on the strength of the reporter's evidence, but it was also looking at past cases.
Mr Mahmood told Panorama he had spent his career investigating crime and wrongdoing, he had used legitimate investigatory methods and brought many individuals to justice. He said any criticism of him usually came from those he had exposed or people he had worked with who had an "axe to grind".Mr Mahmood told Panorama he had spent his career investigating crime and wrongdoing, he had used legitimate investigatory methods and brought many individuals to justice. He said any criticism of him usually came from those he had exposed or people he had worked with who had an "axe to grind".
Watch Panorama: The Fake Sheikh Exposed on BBC One at 19:30 GMT on 12 November or watch again on iPlayer.Watch Panorama: The Fake Sheikh Exposed on BBC One at 19:30 GMT on 12 November or watch again on iPlayer.