Charlie Brooks feared 'Jacqui Smith moment' over porn DVDs

The husband of former News International boss Rebekah Brooks hid a bag of pornographic DVDs because he did not want a "Jacqui Smith moment" the phone hacking trial has heard.

Charlie Brooks said he did not want police leaking embarrassing details of the "smut" to the press, and referred to the scandal in which the former Labour Home Secretary got caught up in a row after her husband submitted an expenses claim for watching pornography.

Asked by his counsel Neil Saunders why he hid the pornographic material behind the bins of an underground car park at the couple's flat in Thames Quay, west London. he said: "The DVDs are of an embarrassing nature."

Watch: Charlie and Rebekah Brooks felt 'under siege'

"I did think about my DVDs and I had my Jacqui Smith moment - a Home Secretary who was implicated by her husband's porn," he added. "I didn't want the same thing to happen to Rebekah."

The racehorse trainer and writer described his actions as "stupid and rash."

Brooks, his wife Rebekah and head of security Mark Hanna deny conspiracy to pervert the course of justice between July 5 and 19 2011.

Rebekah Brooks's husband Charlie told the Old Bailey today how the couple felt under siege at the height of the hacking scandal.

Mr Brooks said his wife lived in fear of what she called the "killer photograph" - her being led away in handcuffs by the police.

ITV News Correspondent Juliet Bremner reports.

Rebekah Brooks was "relieved" at finally being allowed to resign as chief executive of News International, a court has heard.

Mrs Brooks' husband Charlie said he received a phone call on 11 July 2011 from James Murdoch, who he said "now felt Rebekah should resign and not take a leave of absence".

Mr Brooks then phoned his wife to break the news, the jury heard.

"It was quite an ironic call really because Rebekah said 'Thank God for that'," Mr Brooks said.

"I think Rebekah was relieved," he said, claiming she had been suggesting her resignation since 5 July.

Rupert Murdoch requested Charlie Brooks call him in America if his wife Rebekah showed "any signs she was going to resign", a court has heard.

Mr Brooks said that, after revelations that missing schoolgirl Milly Dowler's voicemails had been hacked, the media mogul wanted to ensure she didn't stand down.

Mrs Brooks had been "very concerned" about News of the World staff losing their jobs following the tabloid's closure in July 2011, her husband told the Old Bailey.

"She was obviously feeling pretty wretched about the whole thing," he said, adding she was was "determined" to be at the News of the World offices for the production of its last edition.

Read: Brooks 'feared the killer photo' of her arrest

The husband of former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks has told a court the couple were "appalled and disgusted" by claims that murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone had been hacked.

Charlie Brooks said he and his wife met with then News International chairman James Murdoch in July 2011 to discuss a Guardian newspaper story alleging the missing teenager's voicemail messages had been deleted by the now-defunct News of the World.

He told the court: "The conversation at James Murdoch's house ranged from, 'this is too awful' to being 'this can't have happened'.

"However there was too much accuracy in what had been said for it to be just a political hit. There was too much substance."

Both Mr and Mrs Brooks deny the charges against them.

Read: Rebekah Brooks 'feared killer photo' of arrest

Rebekah Brooks was paranoid about "the killer photograph" of her arrest appearing in the newspapers, the hacking trial has been told.

Her husband, Charlie Brooks, was describing how they changed their flights after a holiday so she could avoid what he described as the photo that might end her career.

Asked to explain the meaning of the "killer photograph", Mr Brooks replied: "You being led out of your home or away from your work in handcuffs surrounded by police. You are never going to work again."

He also described "the toxic atmosphere" that surrounded the couple as the crisis surrounding hacking allegations was gathering momentum at The News of the World during the spring and summer of 2011.

Mr Brooks said Rebekah "was under the kosh" and he constantly worried that she might be arrested in a dawn police raid.

He described one incident when he said he'd been whacked by his wife in the middle of the night and made to get up and dressed, only to discover that it was the dustbin men.