Coulson 'didn't know Blunkett hack was illegal'

Andy Coulson has said he regrets not telling David Blunkett that his phone had been hacked, claiming he did not know at the time that the practice was illegal.

Mr Coulson told the Old Bailey that he confronted the former Home Secretary after intercepted voicemails indicated he was having an affair. However, he had refused to mention how he had made the discovery, the jury heard.

"At that stage, I didn’t know it was illegal and I felt it was possibly justified," he said.

Mr Coulson was then asked if the News International lawyer told him that phone hacking was against the law.

"At the time of David Blunkett, there was no mention of illegality," he replied.

Mr Coulson denies one count of conspiring to hack phones and two counts of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office.