Private investigator tells phone-hacking trial of threat to ‘destroy’ him

Paul Hawkes says claims that he hacked Hugh Grant's emails on behalf of Daily Mirror are fantastical'

Press reform campaigners threatened to destroy" a private investigator because he refused to help their campaign against newspaper groups, it has been alleged at the high court.

Paul Hawkes, a veteran private investigator, said claims that he hacked Hugh Grant's emails on behalf of the Daily Mirror were fantastical" and made-up". After being presented with a supposed invoice for the work, Hawkes mocked the idea he would have carried out such a serious act for such a small sum, telling the court: You're saying I got it hacked by a third party for 150? Come on!"