Reporter blackmailed the Mirror as it tried to cover up phone hacking, court told

Investor Brian Basham alleges that Lee Harpin threatened to blow the whistle on voicemail interception

A leading Mirror journalist allegedly blackmailed the company as it attempted to cover up phone hacking, the high court has been told.

Lee Harpin, who held a number of senior roles at the People and Sunday Mirror, was alleged to be a known phone hacker whose understanding of illegal behaviour at the newspaper group caused anxiety at board level.