View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Publishers
  2. National Newspapers
February 5, 2014updated 06 Feb 2014 4:25pm

Rebekah Brooks emailed ex-husband Ross Kemp to arrange phone-hacking meeting, court told

By Press Association

Rebekah Brooks emailed ex-husband Ross Kemp and said “need to talk to you about phone-hacking”, the Old Bailey heard today.

Police retrieved emails from the BlackBerry of the former News International chief executive after her arrest in July 2011, the hacking trial was told.

Prosecutor Andrew Edis QC read out emails between Brooks and the TV hard man as they arranged to meet.

On 23 June 2011 at 11.03pm, Brooks writes to Kemp: "Hello. How are you? Need to talk to you about phone hacking at some point. When are you around?"

At 12.30am the same night, she emailed her personal assistants: "Need my 2002, 2003 diaries."

The next day, ex-EastEnder Kemp emails her back, saying: "Over a month is too long. A stone lighter though. Shall we have coffee? Am I in trouble? I'm always in trouble."

Then on 5 July, one of Brooks’ personal assistants Deborah Keegan emails Brooks: "Ross called. Sends his best wishes. Says really good to see you and Charlie (Brooks’ current husband) at the weekend. Call if you want."

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Three days later, boxes allegedly containing Brooks’ notebooks were taken out of the News International archive by her other personal assistant Cheryl Carter.

That day, Brooks emails Carter: "Coffee and hot milk separately, please – this is disgusting."

Carter replies: "Coming up."

Later, the jury was told to read the full love letter from Brooks to former News of the World  editor Andy Coulson which the trial heard about last year.

There was silence in the courtroom and neither party reacted in the dock.

Brooks sat with her husband Charlie Brooks on her left, and Coulson two empty seats away on her right.

Edis went on to read a section of the letter to the court in which Brooks tells Coulson: "You are my very best friend. I tell you everything, I confide in you, I seek your advice, I love you, care about you, worry about you. We laugh and cry together."

She goes on to say she does not know how she will cope, adding: "I'm frightened to be without you."

Brooks, 45, of Churchill, Oxfordshire, denies conspiring to hack phones, conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office and conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

Coulson, 46, of Charing, Kent, denies conspiring to hack phones and conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.

Brooks’ husband Charlie Brooks, 50, of Churchill, Oxfordshire, and former personal assistant Carter, 49, of Chelmsford, Essex, also deny conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

All seven defendants deny the charges against them.

The trial will continue on Monday 17 February.

 

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network