David Blunkett rages at press ‘hyenas’ in tapes

 
File photo dated 13/07/04 of David Blunkett using a mobile phone as a jury has heard that the former home secretary had more than 300 voicemails that he left for his lover and other associates hacked by the News of the World. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday November 7, 2013. The Old Bailey was told that recordings of messages Mr Blunkett left for Kimberley Quinn of The Spectator magazine, who he had a three-year affair with, were later recovered from a safe in the office of News International lawyer Tom Crone. Prosecutor Andrew Edis QC told the court that in the drafts of the exclusive story written by NotW chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck, the couple were referred to by code names Noddy (Mr Blunkett) and Big Ears (Ms Quinn). See PA story COURTS Hacking. Photo credit should read: PA Wire INSET: SALLY ANDERSON, 29, who was introduced to David Blunkett at Annabels nightclub in Mayfair, struck up a friendship with him, and is now selling her story. She claims he offered her rent free accomodation at his London tax-payer-funded pad, and that he told her he would buy her a house.
11 November 2013
WEST END FINAL

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Tape recordings of hacked voicemail messages left by ex-Cabinet minister David Blunkett for a female friend were played at the Old Bailey today.

Mr Blunkett left a series of messages on Sally Anderson’s phone after allegations of an affair emerged. The jury in the phone-hacking trial today heard him tell her how much he is thinking of her and apologise for the press “siege” she has been placed under.

He describes those responsible as “bastards”, “utterly vile” and “hyenas”. The recordings of 10 messages from Mr Blunkett and others were found at the home of private investigator Glenn Mulcaire. Mulcaire’s notebooks dated 2005 show that he was directed by News of the World news editor Ian Edmondson, the court heard.

Ms Anderson had met Mr Blunkett at Annabel’s nightclub in a meeting arranged by a friend Tariq Siddiqi, the jury was told. In the first message played Mr Blunkett is perplexed by how so much detail has emerged, particularly about their love of poetry and opera.

In a second call he says: “I don’t know who has done this to you but they are bastards, they have done it for money… and that stinks.” The court was told that in October 2005 Ms Anderson sold her story to the Sunday People.

The jury also heard that former NoW editor Andy Coulson reacted with fury after a secret tape recording of him was published in the press. Mr Blunkett had taped a meeting in 2004 when he was told the paper was planning to expose his affair with Kimberly Quinn. A transcript of the tape was later handed to the Spectator after it claimed the then home secretary had leaked details of the affair. Huw Evans, a special adviser to Mr Blunkett, said Coulson rang him and “was upset that the transcript had been released without permission”.

Former NoW editors Rebekah Brooks and Coulson are accused of conspiracy to intercept voicemail communications with Edmondson and Stuart Kuttner, the paper’s former managing editor. All eight defendants in the trial have pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The case continues.

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