NoW 'told private eyes to follow lawyers of victims'

Ian Edmondson, former head of news at the defunct Sunday tabloid, claimed Tom Crone, who was legal chief, told him to hire private detective Derek Webb to follow Mark Lewis and Charlotte Harris, who represented several News of the World targets at the time.

Mr Edmondson, who is a phone hacking suspect, also alleged former editor Colin Myler, ex-managing editor Stuart Kuttner, and Mr Crone all knew of a "sham" in which News International executives persuaded Mr Webb to become a member of the journalists' union, in an apparent bid to disguise his activities.

Breaking his silence for the first time since his arrest last April, Edmondson told the judicial inquiry into the press he was not responsible for blackmailing two prostitutes during the Max Mosley scandal in 2008. Former chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck had blamed him for sending the women at the centre of the story threatening emails.

In his most significant disclosure at the Royal Courts of Justice, Mr Edmondson laid the blame for targeting Mr Lewis and Miss Harris at the door of Mr Crone. The newspaper's former Head of Legal had previously told Lord Justice Leveson the lawyers were under surveillance because it was suspected they were leaking confidential information to the media.

However, in a written statement, Mr Edmondson, the former executive editor, said: "Mr Crone accepted that it was unlikely material for inclusion in the newspaper as a story, but told me the main reason to investigate was that it could provide the newspaper with good leverage against the individuals."

He also said that three senior NoW executives were involved in a "sham" which involved Mr Webb joining the National Union of Journalists.

Last year, the private investigator told Lord Justice Leveson his employers at the NoW informed him in 2009 that there had been "a little bit of a hiccup", and asked him to "terminate your private investigator's licence... and get an NUJ card". At the time, News International had banned the use of private detectives.

Robert Jay QC, counsel for the inquiry, said: "You must have known that all this was a sham?" Mr Edmondson replied: "I think it was, yes." Mr Jay asked: "Was Mr Myler aware of this practice?"
Mr Edmondson: "Yes."
Mr Jay asked: "And Mr Crone?"
Mr Edmondson replied: "Yes. I certainly know that Mr Myler and the managing editor, who I believe was Stuart Kuttner, were aware... Mr Crone was liaising with Mr Webb's lawyer."