Andy Coulson and other former News of the World staff due in court today on hacking charges

• The PM's former spin doctor and NotW editor joined six others at Westminster Magistrates' Court
• They are accused of hacking up to 600 people in a six year period
• When the hearing started it took the court clerk 15 minutes to read out all the charges against them

By Martin Robinson

PUBLISHED: 04:49 EST, 16 August 2012 | UPDATED: 04:51 EST, 16 August 2012

Hearing: Former News of the World editor and Downing Street communications chief, Andy Coulson arrives at Westminster Magistrates Court this morning

Six former News of the World staff including David Cameron’s former spin doctor Andy Coulson arrived at court today to face phone hacking charges.

The group of six appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, and were joined there by former private investigator Glenn Mulcaire.

Mr Coulson, the former News of the World editor, is accused along with ex-managing editor Stuart Kuttner, former news editor Greg Miskiw, former head of news Ian Edmondson, ex-chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck and former reporter James Weatherup.

They all face one general charge of alleged phone hacking between October 2000 and August 2006 that could affect as many as 600 victims, along with other specific accusations.

It took the court clerk 15 minutes to read out all the charges against them.

Coulson is charged with allegedly accessing the phone messages of murder victim Milly Dowler, former Labour ministers David Blunkett and Charles Clarke, and George Best’s son Calum.

Kuttner is accused in relation to Milly and Mr Blunkett, and Miskiw faces charges linked to Dowler, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Abi Titmuss and John Leslie, former union boss Andrew Gilchrist, Mr Blunkett, Delia Smith, Mr Clarke, Jude Law, Sadie Frost and Sienna Miller, and Wayne Rooney.

Edmondson faces charges in relation to Mr Blunkett, Mr Clarke, Law, Frost, Miller, former MP Mark Oaten, Rooney, Best, former Labour minister Tessa Jowell and her husband David Mills, Lord Prescott, Professor John Tulloch, Lord Frederick Windsor, and Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills.

Thurlbeck will face charges over Milly, Eriksson, Mr Blunkett, Mr Clarke, Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Mr Oaten, Ms Jowell and Mr Mills.

Weatherup is accused in relation to Mr Blunkett, Mr Clarke, Law, Frost and Miller, Jolie and Pitt, Rooney, Lord Prescott and Sir Paul and Ms Mills.

Private investigator Glenn Mulcaire is charged over Milly Dowler, Mr Gilchrist, Smith and Mr Clarke.

The CPS announced last month that ex-NOTW editor Rebekah Brooks will also be facing the general phone-hacking charge and two separate counts in relation to Milly and Mr Gilchrist, but she is due to appear at the same court on September 3.

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