20 Jan 2012

Public figures receive payouts over phone hacking

10:02 am on 20 January 2012

Actor Jude Law and a senior British politician are among the latest public figures to be paid compensation over the News of the World phone hacking scandal.

A British court was told that the actor and his ex-wife Sadie Frost received payments from News International, along with former deputy Prime Minister, Lord Prescott.

Jude Law received £130,000 after his phone was repeatedly hacked between 2003 and 2006, the BBC reports.

Sadie Frost, who got £50,000, said she had suspected her husband was leaking information to the press because reporters always seemed to know where she was.

Lord Prescott was paid £40,000 compensation, the High Court was told.

Sara Payne, mother of murdered schoolgirl Sarah, and Shaun Russell, whose wife and daughter were murdered in 1996, were given undisclosed sums.

Lawyers said most people pursuing damages had now reached agreements out of court.

News International said it would not comment on the agreements.