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Neil Wallis, ex-NoW deputy editor, 'knew about phone hacking' Neil Wallis, ex-NoW deputy editor, 'knew about phone hacking'
(35 minutes later)
It is "inconceivable" that former News of the World senior editor Neil Wallis did not know about phone hacking at the paper, an Old Bailey jury has heard.It is "inconceivable" that former News of the World senior editor Neil Wallis did not know about phone hacking at the paper, an Old Bailey jury has heard.
Mr Wallis is on trial accused of conspiracy to hack voicemail messages.Mr Wallis is on trial accused of conspiracy to hack voicemail messages.
Opening the trial, prosecutors said Mr Wallis, who was deputy editor from 2003 to 2007, was not accused of hacking any phones himself, but he "knew" it was being done and "agreed" to it.Opening the trial, prosecutors said Mr Wallis, who was deputy editor from 2003 to 2007, was not accused of hacking any phones himself, but he "knew" it was being done and "agreed" to it.
Mr Wallis, 64, of Chiswick, west London, denies the charges.Mr Wallis, 64, of Chiswick, west London, denies the charges.
The Sunday tabloid closed in July 2011 after allegations about phone hacking surfaced.The Sunday tabloid closed in July 2011 after allegations about phone hacking surfaced.
Mr Wallis was deputy to former NoW editor Andy Coulson who, the jury was told, was convicted in the first hacking trial last year. His predecessor, Rebekah Brooks, was cleared of conspiring to intercept messages.Mr Wallis was deputy to former NoW editor Andy Coulson who, the jury was told, was convicted in the first hacking trial last year. His predecessor, Rebekah Brooks, was cleared of conspiring to intercept messages.
'Large scale''Large scale'
A number of other staff at the now-defunct paper had already pleaded guilty to the same charge, prosecutor Julian Christopher QC told the jury. A number of other senior staff, including features editor Jules Stenson, have already pleaded guilty to the same charge, prosecutor Julian Christopher QC told the jury.
He said: "The practice was so widespread at the NoW that it is inconceivable that the editor above him, Coulson, should have been involved, and those below him should have been involved, without him also knowing about it and being involved."He said: "The practice was so widespread at the NoW that it is inconceivable that the editor above him, Coulson, should have been involved, and those below him should have been involved, without him also knowing about it and being involved."
There was "no dispute that hacking was going on, and going on on a large scale," he said.There was "no dispute that hacking was going on, and going on on a large scale," he said.
He said during the trial a phone-hacking journalist would recount one occasion when Mr Wallis and Coulson were both played a taped voicemail recording setting a story in motion. He said a phone-hacking journalist would recount one occasion when Mr Wallis and Coulson were both played a taped voicemail recording setting a story in motion.
And Mr Wallis was included in a number of emails which referred "obliquely" to hacking, the prosecutor said, adding: "All those involved in the email plainly knew what was being referred to."And Mr Wallis was included in a number of emails which referred "obliquely" to hacking, the prosecutor said, adding: "All those involved in the email plainly knew what was being referred to."
Prosecution witness The court heard former NoW journalist Dan Evans, who previously pleaded guilty to phone hacking, will give evidence for the prosecution.
The court heard that former NoW journalist Dan Evans, who has admitted extensive hacking, has agreed to give evidence for the prosecution.
Mr Christopher said: "He will be able to provide a snapshot of what was taking place at the NoW under the stewardship of Andy Coulson at the top - and his deputy Mr Wallis."Mr Christopher said: "He will be able to provide a snapshot of what was taking place at the NoW under the stewardship of Andy Coulson at the top - and his deputy Mr Wallis."
Evans began work at the NoW in January 2005 when he was tasked with phone hacking straight away, the court heard. But the jury was warned to treat the evidence from Evans - who received a suspended prison sentence for hacking, perverting the course of justice and paying a public official for information - "with care" because he had co-operated with the authorities to "secure a lesser sentence".
'Screw phones'
The court heard Evans's recruitment from the Sunday Mirror began in 2004 when he met former NoW news editor James Weatherup and another executive, but he declined to join the paper.
At a second meeting, at a bar in Wapping, Mr Weatherup introduced Evans to Mr Wallis.
Mr Christopher told the jury that Mr Wallis asked Evans: "I know you can screw phones, what else can you do?"
Again, Evans declined to join the paper.
He eventually agreed to join the NoW after being contacted by Stenson and then editor Coulson.
When Evans started in January 2005 "no time was wasted" in tasking him to hack phones, the jury heard, with Stenson sending Evans a 27-page email containing the mobile numbers of hundreds of celebrities.
The jury was taken through documents revealing the names of some of the celebrities targeted by Evans.
They included actress Sienna Miller, designer Kelly Hoppen, Labour politician Tessa Jowell and her husband David Mills, entertainer Cilla Black and supermodel Kate Moss.
The jury was also told of hacking at the NoW before Evans joined the paper. One of those victims was a married woman who was having an affair with former home secretary David Blunkett.
Five microcassettes of voicemail messages left on the mobile phone of Mr Blunkett's lover were found in the safe of NoW lawyer Tom Crone, the court heard.