Royal snooper jailed - News of the World editor resigns

Clive Goodman, the royal editor of the News of the World, has been jailed for four months for plotting to intercept voicemail messages left for royal aides.

Andy Coulson, the News of the world editor, quit after the sentences were announced.

Goodman tapped into several hundred such messages, the criminal court at the Old Bailey heard during the trial.

Glenn Mulcaire has been jailed for six months after pleading guilty to the same charge. He also pleaded guilty to hacking into the messages of celebrities.

Goodman and Mulcaire had used mobile phone numbers and pin numbers to hack into the voicemails.

Goodman could not resist publishing tittle-tattle about Prince William, saying he had consulted doctors over a pulled knee tendon and had postponed a mountain rescue course.

A week later Goodman reported more tittle-tattle in the News of the World, saying that Tom Bradby, ITN's former royal correspondent, had lent Prince William some broadcasting equipment. Goodman printed that a week before Bradby was due to meet Prince William.

"We worked out that only he and I and two people incredibly close to him had actually known about it," said Mr Bradby.

Goodman and Mulcaire were then arrested as result of the police investigations.

Clive Goodman pleads guilty to phone interceptions of the royal family