Former WO reporter Sean Hoare claims ex-News of the World editor Andy Coulson told him to hack phones (From Watford Observer)

Former WO reporter Sean Hoare claims ex-News of the World editor Andy Coulson told him to hack phones

3:43pm Tuesday 7th September 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(1)

A former Watford Observer trainee reporter is embroiled in the phone tapping allegations surrounding David Cameron's communications chief.

Sean Hoare, who worked for the Watford Observer in the late 1980s and later joined the News of the World, has claimed the Sunday tabloid's former editor Andy Coulson asked him to hack into phones.

Mr Coulson, who denies the claims, said he would be happy to meet with Metropolitan Police detectives investigating the case.

The row over alleged phone hacking was inflamed when Mr Hoare and other former journalists told the New York Times that it was far more common at the News of the World than the newspaper admitted when police first investigated the claims in 2007.

Earlier today, Met Police Assistant Chief Commissioner John Yates said he would “imagine they would be seeing” the former editor after telling the Home Affairs Select Committee between 91 and 120 people may have been targeted but officers could only prove up to 12 cases.