Former ‘News of the World’ news editor admits phone-hacking

A former newspaper editor, whose emails led to the exposure of widespread phone-hacking at Rupert Murdoch's now defunct British tabloid the News of the World, pleaded guilty yesterday to illegally listening to people's voicemails.

Ian Edmondson is the eighth person from what was once Britain’s biggest-selling paper to have been convicted of involvement in hacking celebrities’ phones to find exclusive stories.

Edmondson, who had previously denied any wrongdoing, admitted conspiring with colleagues to illegally access voicemails. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Phone-hacking was first uncovered at the paper in 2006, but Mr Murdoch’s company, News International, said the practice was limited to its former royal editor, Clive Goodman, and private detective Glenn Mulcaire, who were both later jailed after admitting offences. –(Reuters)