1 00:00:21,123 --> 00:00:23,123 [tense music] 2 00:00:27,243 --> 00:00:30,203 [presenter] Good evening, welcome to the BBC news at six. 3 00:00:30,283 --> 00:00:33,123 After days of intense pressure and public anger 4 00:00:33,163 --> 00:00:34,723 over the phone hacking scandal, 5 00:00:34,803 --> 00:00:37,883 the News of the World, the country’s biggest selling newspaper 6 00:00:37,963 --> 00:00:40,723 has said that this Sunday's edition will be its last. 7 00:00:40,803 --> 00:00:43,923 [presenter 2] Police investigating allegations of phone hacking 8 00:00:44,003 --> 00:00:48,483 said they were working through a list of 4,000 potential victims. 9 00:00:48,563 --> 00:00:50,723 I feel so appalled by what has happened. 10 00:00:50,803 --> 00:00:54,123 Murder victims, terrorist victims who’ve had their phones hacked 11 00:00:54,203 --> 00:00:56,003 is quite disgraceful. 12 00:00:56,083 --> 00:00:59,523 [reporter] Arrests followed, with editors, executives and journalists 13 00:00:59,603 --> 00:01:01,723 all implicated in the scandal. 14 00:01:03,443 --> 00:01:05,603 Everybody came after us. 15 00:01:06,043 --> 00:01:10,803 Although we’d done great stuff and put a lot of baddies away, 16 00:01:10,883 --> 00:01:12,963 we just became the villains of the piece. 17 00:01:13,323 --> 00:01:17,123 [Steve Coogan] It's morally bankrupt, totally, and you are morally bankrupt. 18 00:01:17,203 --> 00:01:20,603 The whole notion of press freedom is a smokescreen 19 00:01:20,723 --> 00:01:23,163 for selling newspapers with tittle-tattle, 20 00:01:23,243 --> 00:01:26,523 and you hide behind this whenever it comes up, it’s absolute B.S. 21 00:01:26,603 --> 00:01:28,123 [applause] 22 00:01:28,803 --> 00:01:31,443 [reporter] This was the scene in Wapping last night 23 00:01:31,523 --> 00:01:35,243 as the staff bid goodbye to their newspaper and their jobs. 24 00:01:37,283 --> 00:01:41,003 [Emma Morgan] I remember hearing that the News of the World had closed down 25 00:01:41,083 --> 00:01:45,243 and I was so pleased, I was so pleased to see the back of it. 26 00:01:45,323 --> 00:01:49,123 I actually visualised the News of the World’s news desks, 27 00:01:49,483 --> 00:01:52,763 the empty chairs and the vacated desks, 28 00:01:52,843 --> 00:01:54,643 and I just thought, brilliant. 29 00:01:57,563 --> 00:02:01,323 I thought that would be the end of Mazher Mahmood, 30 00:02:02,803 --> 00:02:04,043 but it wasn’t. 31 00:02:10,723 --> 00:02:13,083 [intense music] 32 00:02:16,203 --> 00:02:20,203 [reporter] The trial of Mazher Mahmood, the journalist known as the Fake Sheikh, 33 00:02:20,283 --> 00:02:22,363 has opened at the Old Bailey. 34 00:02:24,723 --> 00:02:27,443 [Jodie Kidd] It was so unbelievable, it was believable. 35 00:02:27,483 --> 00:02:29,323 You know, this can’t be fake. 36 00:02:33,883 --> 00:02:37,443 [reporter] For 30 years he has revelled in hiding his identity. 37 00:02:39,163 --> 00:02:44,723 [George Galloway] His anonymity, his secrecy was the key to his entire act. 38 00:02:46,283 --> 00:02:49,123 [reporter] The self-styled King of the Sting, 39 00:02:49,203 --> 00:02:52,643 turning up to court every day beneath a balaclava. 40 00:02:54,203 --> 00:02:58,843 [Jeremy Dein] I think he was ruthless, dishonest, and a merciless individual. 41 00:02:59,683 --> 00:03:03,163 [reporter] Mazher Mahmood has been behind some huge tabloid scoops, 42 00:03:03,243 --> 00:03:06,243 things like uncovering match fixing in Pakistani cricket, 43 00:03:06,323 --> 00:03:08,923 and a plan to kidnap Victoria Beckham. 44 00:03:11,203 --> 00:03:13,803 [Neil Wallis] Maz played on this caricature 45 00:03:13,883 --> 00:03:17,803 that money literally could be no object and if you got close, 46 00:03:17,883 --> 00:03:19,963 you could grab your share of it. 47 00:03:27,803 --> 00:03:31,883 [Emma Morgan] I hate to say it, but he’s very, very, very good at what he does. 48 00:03:54,443 --> 00:03:58,843 [reporter] The Sun on Sunday will publish for the first time next weekend. 49 00:04:00,963 --> 00:04:03,883 It follows the closure of the News of the World last July, 50 00:04:03,963 --> 00:04:05,843 in the wake of the phone hacking scandal. 51 00:04:08,003 --> 00:04:12,203 [Paul Connew] Rupert Murdoch didn’t like the idea that he wasn’t going to have 52 00:04:12,283 --> 00:04:15,723 a Sunday newspaper because he still believed 53 00:04:15,803 --> 00:04:17,483 there was a big market 54 00:04:17,923 --> 00:04:21,483 and that’s how the idea of the Sun on Sunday was born 55 00:04:21,563 --> 00:04:26,483 with the idea that it had to be untainted by the News of the World 56 00:04:26,843 --> 00:04:29,923 The first edition of the Sunday Sun, how about that. 57 00:04:30,483 --> 00:04:34,963 Mazher had the reputation of being a journalistic born survivor, 58 00:04:35,403 --> 00:04:40,643 he was never charged with phone hacking, or linked directly to phone hacking 59 00:04:40,723 --> 00:04:44,403 so he was given a birth on the Sun on Sunday. 60 00:04:48,963 --> 00:04:50,283 [tense music] 61 00:04:51,843 --> 00:04:54,563 [Aylia Fox] I think when the News of the World closed, 62 00:04:54,643 --> 00:04:59,363 there was definitely a seismic shift in terms of how people perceived the press 63 00:04:59,403 --> 00:05:03,523 and there was less tolerance for shenanigans 64 00:05:03,603 --> 00:05:06,763 and journalists had to be more careful, 65 00:05:06,843 --> 00:05:10,203 only I don’t think Mazher Mahmood got that memo. 66 00:05:14,403 --> 00:05:18,163 In the Sun, he was trying to re-establish himself 67 00:05:18,283 --> 00:05:19,563 as the King of the Sting, 68 00:05:19,643 --> 00:05:22,803 He wanted to put his stamp on. This is me, I’m back, 69 00:05:22,843 --> 00:05:24,683 look and weep. 70 00:05:27,163 --> 00:05:29,563 [Aylia Fox] When Mazher joined the Sun on Sunday 71 00:05:29,643 --> 00:05:32,883 I think there would have been a lot of pressure 72 00:05:32,963 --> 00:05:35,003 to secure a big story fast 73 00:05:35,083 --> 00:05:38,283 because he was constantly on a mission to prove himself 74 00:05:38,363 --> 00:05:40,883 and you are only as good as your last story 75 00:05:40,963 --> 00:05:43,603 and in his case, all his stories were big, 76 00:05:43,683 --> 00:05:45,723 so he had to come up with a bigger one. 77 00:05:46,243 --> 00:05:48,923 ♪ I'll make mistakes that I learn from ♪ 78 00:05:49,003 --> 00:05:53,003 ♪ 'Cause I'm young, yeah I'm young ♪ 79 00:05:53,083 --> 00:05:56,563 ♪ I'm sorry, I'm not even done ♪ 80 00:05:56,643 --> 00:06:00,763 ♪ 'Cause I'm young, yeah I'm young ♪ 81 00:06:01,403 --> 00:06:03,723 [Aylia Fox] Tulisa was a popstar. 82 00:06:03,803 --> 00:06:05,243 [crowd cheering] 83 00:06:05,323 --> 00:06:08,043 She was a TV personality 84 00:06:08,563 --> 00:06:12,443 and people knew her because she was a judge on the X Factor. 85 00:06:17,763 --> 00:06:20,443 She was on our screens every Saturday night, 86 00:06:20,523 --> 00:06:21,923 prime time television. 87 00:06:24,283 --> 00:06:28,803 I thought she was great, and my daughter did and still does like N-Dubz, 88 00:06:28,883 --> 00:06:29,963 as do I. 89 00:06:30,563 --> 00:06:32,163 [cheering and screaming] 90 00:06:34,563 --> 00:06:37,723 But show business can be cutthroat. 91 00:06:39,483 --> 00:06:42,203 [reporter] Tulisa confirmed the wildly unexpected news 92 00:06:42,283 --> 00:06:44,443 that she is leaving the X Factor. 93 00:06:44,523 --> 00:06:45,923 [paparazzo] Morning, Tulisa. 94 00:06:48,483 --> 00:06:51,603 Sadly for Tulisa she’d just left the X Factor, 95 00:06:53,283 --> 00:06:59,843 which almost certainly made her vulnerable and an ideal sting target. 96 00:07:08,643 --> 00:07:14,043 I was approached by these two “film producers.” 97 00:07:14,123 --> 00:07:17,763 They wanted me for this massive lead role 98 00:07:17,843 --> 00:07:20,563 in a Bollywood slash Hollywood production. 99 00:07:20,643 --> 00:07:23,963 All in all, I was offered 3 to 3.5 mil. 100 00:07:25,723 --> 00:07:28,363 I’m thinking “Wow this is a dream come true.” 101 00:07:31,843 --> 00:07:37,523 Maz was a terrific newspaper investigative reporter. 102 00:07:37,603 --> 00:07:43,083 What his skill was would be to see a situation, 103 00:07:44,283 --> 00:07:47,563 work out how to get to it 104 00:07:48,323 --> 00:07:52,003 and quite quickly set up a path 105 00:07:53,323 --> 00:07:55,123 to then bring it all together. 106 00:07:58,243 --> 00:08:00,563 [Aylia Fox] His Fake Sheikh days were over 107 00:08:00,643 --> 00:08:04,483 because people did know about him, they’d read about him, 108 00:08:04,563 --> 00:08:06,643 so he had to change who he was 109 00:08:06,723 --> 00:08:12,243 and he became a high-flying Bollywood producer. 110 00:08:14,203 --> 00:08:17,043 When I saw the footage, it was very clear to me 111 00:08:17,123 --> 00:08:18,803 that this was a typical sting. 112 00:08:18,883 --> 00:08:23,963 Everything was meticulously planned even to the point where she was sitting 113 00:08:24,043 --> 00:08:27,803 was in exact view of where his secret camera was set up. 114 00:08:28,363 --> 00:08:32,243 Ok the story outline very briefly is that we want an English girl, 115 00:08:32,323 --> 00:08:36,643 - Kind of a... from humble... -Are we talking posh British or... 116 00:08:36,723 --> 00:08:38,443 No. 117 00:08:38,803 --> 00:08:42,643 [Aylia Fox] To get what he wanted, he had to reflect the desires 118 00:08:42,683 --> 00:08:45,443 of the person that’s sitting in front of him. 119 00:08:45,523 --> 00:08:47,883 He was incredibly convincing. 120 00:08:47,923 --> 00:08:49,563 He got her tipsy, 121 00:08:50,403 --> 00:08:52,483 he offered her the world, 122 00:08:52,563 --> 00:08:56,283 and the footage shows that she was excited about it. 123 00:08:56,363 --> 00:09:00,243 -We want a kind of a... -Oh I can do cockney. 124 00:09:00,643 --> 00:09:03,363 ...someone who comes from kind of a very low background 125 00:09:03,803 --> 00:09:05,163 -Perfect! -Before that... 126 00:09:05,243 --> 00:09:06,283 Ta-da! 127 00:09:11,363 --> 00:09:13,803 [Aylia Fox] Mazher Mahmood was a little bit stuck 128 00:09:13,923 --> 00:09:17,683 because she’d not done anything illegal, she’d not taken drugs 129 00:09:17,763 --> 00:09:21,243 but Mazher was a dog with a bone and he would find a way 130 00:09:21,323 --> 00:09:23,763 to get the story by hook or by crook. 131 00:09:24,803 --> 00:09:28,203 [Neil Wallis] Nothing fazed him. If a good story was a good story, 132 00:09:28,283 --> 00:09:30,123 he would go for it and not be put off 133 00:09:30,203 --> 00:09:33,283 just because it seemed difficult 134 00:09:33,923 --> 00:09:35,763 and he was determined. 135 00:09:37,523 --> 00:09:40,403 [Aylia Fox] He left it a week or two, contacted her 136 00:09:40,483 --> 00:09:43,763 and asked her if she knew anyone who could supply him with drugs. 137 00:09:46,043 --> 00:09:49,803 Now she wanted to impress him, she wanted the work. 138 00:09:50,443 --> 00:09:53,203 Tulisa said she’d reached out to a contact 139 00:09:53,283 --> 00:09:56,403 and told them to pretend they were able to get Maz drugs 140 00:09:56,483 --> 00:09:58,643 so she would appear streetwise. 141 00:09:59,483 --> 00:10:03,403 But that person actually did end up supplying Maz with cocaine 142 00:10:04,443 --> 00:10:06,163 and that was enough for the story. 143 00:10:17,803 --> 00:10:18,923 [sniffs] 144 00:10:20,323 --> 00:10:23,803 My life is ruined, it’s over. 145 00:10:28,123 --> 00:10:30,763 I just want my life back. 146 00:10:32,323 --> 00:10:35,083 [sobs] They’ve ruined me. 147 00:10:35,923 --> 00:10:40,683 This would never have happened unless they created the situation. 148 00:10:40,803 --> 00:10:42,923 They made it happen. 149 00:10:43,003 --> 00:10:46,923 This would never have happened unless they made it happen. 150 00:10:47,043 --> 00:10:50,203 They made it happen! 151 00:10:58,003 --> 00:11:01,443 [reporter] The singer and former X-factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos 152 00:11:01,523 --> 00:11:04,043 has appeared in court to face drug offence charges. 153 00:11:04,923 --> 00:11:06,723 [paparazzi shouting] 154 00:11:08,963 --> 00:11:11,563 [reporter] Tulisa had to make her way past a crowd 155 00:11:11,643 --> 00:11:13,843 of photographers, news crews and reporters, 156 00:11:13,923 --> 00:11:15,923 making her way to courtroom number one. 157 00:11:17,443 --> 00:11:21,643 She faces a charge of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs 158 00:11:21,723 --> 00:11:23,043 to an undercover reporter. 159 00:11:36,803 --> 00:11:39,683 We’re going to make a short statement on behalf of Tulisa. 160 00:11:40,323 --> 00:11:43,963 Tulisa’s been charged with a serious criminal offence, 161 00:11:44,043 --> 00:11:46,443 to which today, she’s pleaded not guilty. 162 00:11:47,763 --> 00:11:51,443 As has been widely reported, this entire case 163 00:11:51,523 --> 00:11:54,363 has been manufactured by Mazher Mahmood, 164 00:11:54,443 --> 00:11:57,163 sometimes known as the Fake Sheikh. 165 00:11:58,003 --> 00:12:00,963 Tulisa is the latest in a long line of people 166 00:12:01,043 --> 00:12:04,123 who have been treated as fodder by greedy newspapers. 167 00:12:06,283 --> 00:12:09,243 [Steve Grayson] I remember reading the Tulisa story 168 00:12:09,803 --> 00:12:12,243 and I thought, this is exactly what we did. 169 00:12:13,203 --> 00:12:17,003 There’s no difference, it’s exactly the same as what Mahmood did 170 00:12:17,083 --> 00:12:18,563 to Emma Morgan. 171 00:12:22,603 --> 00:12:24,203 The story’s the same. 172 00:12:25,483 --> 00:12:29,243 The splash was "Page 3 Girl’s Drug Shame." 173 00:12:31,243 --> 00:12:34,803 [Emma Morgan] When I saw the article about Tulisa, 174 00:12:35,323 --> 00:12:39,443 I knew exactly what had gone on, I looked at the byline and of course, 175 00:12:39,523 --> 00:12:42,923 there he was Mazher Mahmood, up to his old tricks. 176 00:12:43,003 --> 00:12:46,443 I wanted to shout out and say, he’s done that to me as well 177 00:12:46,643 --> 00:12:50,043 many many years before, the details were slightly different, 178 00:12:50,283 --> 00:12:52,763 but the way in which he had gone about it 179 00:12:52,843 --> 00:12:54,443 was exactly the same. 180 00:12:57,843 --> 00:13:01,323 What I have noticed with Mazher’s stings 181 00:13:01,803 --> 00:13:04,643 is that although his victims can be very very different, 182 00:13:04,723 --> 00:13:08,003 he still used the same blueprint, 183 00:13:08,083 --> 00:13:12,043 he still sold them the dream, he gave them what they wanted. 184 00:13:12,123 --> 00:13:14,443 He dangled the biggest carrot ever, 185 00:13:14,523 --> 00:13:17,123 knowing they were going to reach for that carrot 186 00:13:17,203 --> 00:13:19,083 and that’s how he brought them down. 187 00:13:19,603 --> 00:13:25,323 I fell for the Fake Sheikh’s bullshit 188 00:13:25,403 --> 00:13:28,963 because I was offered an opportunity of a lifetime. 189 00:13:37,883 --> 00:13:40,283 We flew to Lanzarote. 190 00:13:44,963 --> 00:13:47,723 It was a really, really big calendar shoot. 191 00:13:51,323 --> 00:13:55,203 he said that I'd be getting paid far more money than I had ever been paid 192 00:13:55,283 --> 00:13:56,523 on any job before. 193 00:14:01,523 --> 00:14:04,563 But he asked me if I could get him some cocaine. 194 00:14:07,363 --> 00:14:11,363 I was duped, I was encouraged so much, 195 00:14:11,443 --> 00:14:14,723 I honestly thought if I had said no, 196 00:14:14,803 --> 00:14:16,563 it could have cost me the job. 197 00:14:18,723 --> 00:14:21,763 He asked me if I could get some cocaine for him 198 00:14:21,843 --> 00:14:24,203 from this guy called Billy. 199 00:14:27,243 --> 00:14:31,243 [Steve Grayson] Billy is buying the cocaine and we’re paying him. 200 00:14:31,323 --> 00:14:36,483 Because Mazher Mahmood paid him from the expenses. 201 00:14:36,563 --> 00:14:39,643 "What about if we put that in the paper? What a joke! 202 00:14:39,723 --> 00:14:43,043 "Oh, it’s okay. We bought the coke for her! 203 00:14:43,123 --> 00:14:45,243 "Ah, that’s a good idea." 204 00:14:45,323 --> 00:14:47,323 We bought the coke, we give it to her. 205 00:14:47,403 --> 00:14:50,763 Billy gets paid, everybody gets paid, she gets ruined. 206 00:14:55,163 --> 00:15:00,603 He halted my career just as it was about to blow up. 207 00:15:00,683 --> 00:15:02,563 I never recovered from it. 208 00:15:07,043 --> 00:15:11,563 And I just cried and cried and cried 209 00:15:11,643 --> 00:15:14,843 and I was just so scared about what my mum and dad would think. 210 00:15:17,803 --> 00:15:20,803 [voice shaking] I remember... Sorry. 211 00:15:22,843 --> 00:15:25,603 I remember calling and I spoke to my dad 212 00:15:25,683 --> 00:15:29,443 and he just said, "Do you need help?" 213 00:15:29,523 --> 00:15:31,883 "Have you got a drugs problem? 214 00:15:31,963 --> 00:15:34,723 "because we'll get you sorted, we'll get you to rehab." 215 00:15:34,803 --> 00:15:39,043 And he was really worried about me and I said no. 216 00:15:39,123 --> 00:15:41,283 He said, you can tell me the truth, 217 00:15:41,363 --> 00:15:44,203 and I remember thinking, even my dad believes it. 218 00:15:44,643 --> 00:15:50,163 And then after that everything just, everything just went to shit. 219 00:15:54,843 --> 00:15:57,083 [Steve Grayson] In the end I got sacked 220 00:15:57,163 --> 00:16:00,603 over another story and fell out with Maz, 221 00:16:01,043 --> 00:16:03,523 but I felt bad for Emma. 222 00:16:03,603 --> 00:16:05,443 You know, I really did feel bad. 223 00:16:07,083 --> 00:16:09,883 It’s OK feeling bad but I done it. 224 00:16:09,963 --> 00:16:11,683 But I did feel bad. 225 00:16:13,163 --> 00:16:16,483 [Emma Morgan] If my own dad is wondering whether or not it’s true, 226 00:16:16,563 --> 00:16:19,683 you know, how is my voice ever going to be louder 227 00:16:19,763 --> 00:16:21,723 than the voice of the News of the World? 228 00:16:21,803 --> 00:16:25,683 I can’t shout as loud as the 6 million people who are going to read about me. 229 00:16:26,563 --> 00:16:29,083 He would have had me slung in jail if he could, 230 00:16:29,163 --> 00:16:32,803 just thankfully it was in Spain so it was out of our jurisdiction. 231 00:16:32,883 --> 00:16:36,363 Had this been in London, maybe I’d have been up in court as well. 232 00:16:43,003 --> 00:16:46,563 [reporter] A court in London has told the singer Tulisa Contostavlos 233 00:16:46,643 --> 00:16:50,163 that she will go on trial in July to face a charge of supplying drugs. 234 00:16:53,923 --> 00:16:57,963 I’d become aware of Tulisa Contostavlos being arrested, 235 00:16:58,043 --> 00:16:59,683 and I’d followed that story. 236 00:17:01,163 --> 00:17:03,203 I was actually a fan of N-Dubz, 237 00:17:03,283 --> 00:17:07,003 and my children were young at the time, we all used to watch the X Factor 238 00:17:07,083 --> 00:17:08,443 avidly on a Saturday night. 239 00:17:08,523 --> 00:17:13,563 And then, low and behold my clerk got a call from Tulisa’s manager. 240 00:17:13,603 --> 00:17:15,683 So, it was all a bit intimidating for me, 241 00:17:15,763 --> 00:17:18,123 I was very nervous about meeting her, actually. 242 00:17:21,123 --> 00:17:23,363 [Jeremy Dein] You were set up and entrapped. 243 00:17:24,323 --> 00:17:28,363 Entrapment is not a defence to a criminal charge. 244 00:17:29,043 --> 00:17:34,603 But a judge is entitled to stop the proceedings, 245 00:17:35,203 --> 00:17:41,923 if he or she feels that this was crime manufactured by Mahmood. 246 00:17:42,003 --> 00:17:44,803 Obviously we’ll be drawing from the facts of your case, 247 00:17:44,843 --> 00:17:49,203 the whole business of the carrot of the 3.5 million, 248 00:17:49,283 --> 00:17:54,123 the carrot of the major part in the film, that you were lured. 249 00:17:57,123 --> 00:17:58,603 [ominous music] 250 00:18:01,123 --> 00:18:03,083 No matter what the size of the carrot, 251 00:18:04,243 --> 00:18:06,923 you cannot entrap people into committing these crimes, 252 00:18:08,083 --> 00:18:12,363 however the public perception is that’s because they’ve offered a huge carrot. 253 00:18:12,443 --> 00:18:14,843 That is resulting in the crimes taking place. 254 00:18:21,203 --> 00:18:25,123 I wanted to do the case, as any, you know, professional would. 255 00:18:25,243 --> 00:18:27,843 It was, you know, an exciting prospect. 256 00:18:27,963 --> 00:18:31,803 but it was also, you know, incredibly worrying, 257 00:18:31,843 --> 00:18:33,923 because he did seem to be unstoppable. 258 00:18:36,603 --> 00:18:41,323 We researched Mahmood’s old cases before the Tulisa case 259 00:18:41,363 --> 00:18:46,243 and the view I formed is that this was a journalist 260 00:18:46,323 --> 00:18:49,923 whose working practices could not be trusted. 261 00:18:51,043 --> 00:18:54,923 The defendants had been lured in by inducement 262 00:18:55,003 --> 00:18:57,283 by Mahmood and his cohorts. 263 00:18:57,363 --> 00:19:01,723 They’re actually creating and generating the crime 264 00:19:01,803 --> 00:19:06,803 that they would later be heard to say was in the public interest to prosecute. 265 00:19:11,763 --> 00:19:16,243 Public interest is, for me, is moral wrongdoing, obviously criminal acts, 266 00:19:16,323 --> 00:19:18,763 hypocrisy, you know, the public being deceived. 267 00:19:20,243 --> 00:19:23,443 All 500 of my investigations that I’ve done, all 500 of them, 268 00:19:23,523 --> 00:19:27,123 fulfil the criteria in my view that they satisfy the public interest. 269 00:19:30,523 --> 00:19:35,603 When Maz landed those huge mega scoops 270 00:19:35,683 --> 00:19:38,123 then the papers would fly off the shelves. 271 00:19:38,683 --> 00:19:42,923 Maz delivered constantly, he was hugely valued. 272 00:19:43,683 --> 00:19:46,523 But he needed someone to watch him, 273 00:19:47,203 --> 00:19:50,723 to stop him getting out of control because he was so focused, 274 00:19:51,323 --> 00:19:54,203 he developed a kind of tunnel vision. 275 00:19:55,443 --> 00:20:01,123 And all that mattered was winning that next great scoop. 276 00:20:13,843 --> 00:20:16,723 [Jeremy Dein] In Tulisa's case we had a pre-trial hearing, 277 00:20:16,803 --> 00:20:19,763 arguing that the case should not be permitted to proceed. 278 00:20:21,843 --> 00:20:26,443 So, we were arguing that the behaviour of Mahmood was unconscionable, 279 00:20:26,523 --> 00:20:30,803 that evidence had been gathered in a background of lies, deceits 280 00:20:30,843 --> 00:20:32,363 and falsity. 281 00:20:32,443 --> 00:20:34,123 Their justification for the sting 282 00:20:34,203 --> 00:20:36,323 was that they claimed they had information 283 00:20:36,363 --> 00:20:38,843 that Tulisa Contostavlos was a drugs dealer. 284 00:20:40,123 --> 00:20:44,563 We wanted to see the information and/or be told 285 00:20:44,603 --> 00:20:46,723 who it was that provided that information. 286 00:20:47,123 --> 00:20:48,483 And we got nothing. 287 00:20:50,003 --> 00:20:54,363 So, a lot of the Tulisa case was wrapped up in alleged, journalistic privilege. 288 00:20:55,363 --> 00:20:58,243 It was definitely a case of David and Goliath, for sure. 289 00:20:58,723 --> 00:21:02,083 And there were times when it seemed overwhelming, yeah. 290 00:21:03,043 --> 00:21:06,563 One of the nights during, I actually slept in my chair in my chambers. 291 00:21:06,603 --> 00:21:10,443 Worked until about 4 or 5 in the morning and just went to sleep for an hour, 292 00:21:10,523 --> 00:21:13,963 I think I went out and bought a new shirt actually and went to court. 293 00:21:14,043 --> 00:21:18,523 You know, we knew we were up against it in the legal arguments hearing. 294 00:21:22,843 --> 00:21:25,563 [Paul Samrai] He would put in more effort, 295 00:21:25,603 --> 00:21:28,203 and I know this from first-hand experience, 296 00:21:28,283 --> 00:21:32,683 he'd put in more effort into the preparation for a court case 297 00:21:32,763 --> 00:21:35,203 than he would into the original story. 298 00:21:38,243 --> 00:21:44,843 Because the conviction effectively validated his journalism. 299 00:21:48,123 --> 00:21:50,963 [Jeremy Dein] Mahmood and his group, 300 00:21:51,043 --> 00:21:53,923 they were as uncooperative as they could possibly be. 301 00:21:58,923 --> 00:22:03,043 We were desperately trying to take a statement from a very important witness, 302 00:22:03,123 --> 00:22:05,163 Mahmood’s driver Alan Smith, 303 00:22:05,243 --> 00:22:06,683 and they stood in our way. 304 00:22:11,483 --> 00:22:16,083 Just after the main meeting between Tulisa and Mahmood, 305 00:22:16,163 --> 00:22:20,403 Tulisa was offered a chauffeur driven car home with Alan Smith as the driver. 306 00:22:21,083 --> 00:22:24,523 And she was talking about family members being affected by drugs 307 00:22:24,603 --> 00:22:28,243 and explaining that’s why she was so anti-drugs. 308 00:22:30,323 --> 00:22:33,443 Alan Smith clearly overheard what she was saying. 309 00:22:36,603 --> 00:22:40,243 And then we, having so bitterly complained about that, 310 00:22:40,323 --> 00:22:43,243 they obviously gave in and just took a statement from him. 311 00:22:43,323 --> 00:22:47,923 In which Smith said that Tulisa spoke against drugs, 312 00:22:48,003 --> 00:22:51,043 in the car, coming back from the Metropolitan Hotel. 313 00:22:51,123 --> 00:22:54,763 So, obviously this was, you know, an incredible moment. 314 00:22:56,043 --> 00:23:01,203 We’ve now got a statement in which her case was supported. 315 00:23:01,283 --> 00:23:04,283 So I thought, this was gold dust. 316 00:23:08,963 --> 00:23:13,883 But within 24 hours, Alan Smith changed that part of his statement. 317 00:23:15,323 --> 00:23:18,243 The judge was just told that Alan Smith had made a mistake. 318 00:23:19,003 --> 00:23:22,163 Well obviously, we complained even more bitterly about that, 319 00:23:22,243 --> 00:23:27,003 but the judge’s standpoint on that was, well, that’s what the witness has said. 320 00:23:27,083 --> 00:23:30,403 These are all matters for the jury to consider in due course. 321 00:23:30,483 --> 00:23:32,403 And it was left at that. 322 00:23:33,883 --> 00:23:37,083 I remember saying to myself, how am I going to turn this around, 323 00:23:37,163 --> 00:23:39,763 I don’t know how I’m going to turn this around. 324 00:23:57,163 --> 00:24:00,443 I’m scared for myself, I’m scared for myself. 325 00:24:06,083 --> 00:24:09,363 [Jeremy Dein] The whole experience of arriving at court, the trial 326 00:24:09,443 --> 00:24:15,283 was ten out of ten anxiety, tension, stress, you know, trauma. 327 00:24:15,363 --> 00:24:16,923 There's no question about that. 328 00:24:18,683 --> 00:24:20,643 [shutters clicking] 329 00:24:30,523 --> 00:24:33,283 This was a really difficult case to win. 330 00:24:33,363 --> 00:24:36,043 The prosecutor’s key arguments were very simply put. 331 00:24:36,123 --> 00:24:41,163 She’d been exposed as a drugs dealer. She had spoken in very clear terms 332 00:24:41,243 --> 00:24:43,603 of her willingness to supply drugs 333 00:24:44,083 --> 00:24:47,563 and that she had set up a drugs deal which went through 334 00:24:47,643 --> 00:24:51,163 and that Mazher Mahmood was a very experienced investigative journalist 335 00:24:51,803 --> 00:24:56,403 who had exposed this and it was in the public interest that this should happen. 336 00:25:03,443 --> 00:25:06,443 [Jeremy Dein] Tulisa was definitely facing a prison sentence 337 00:25:06,523 --> 00:25:09,283 between 18 months and three years. 338 00:25:10,283 --> 00:25:14,123 And as we got into the trial, things weren’t looking good. 339 00:25:18,803 --> 00:25:21,083 We went into a room at Southwark Crown Court, 340 00:25:21,163 --> 00:25:24,363 and it was the first time where I saw her cracking up. 341 00:25:26,883 --> 00:25:29,603 She was crying, she was very very distressed, 342 00:25:29,923 --> 00:25:33,443 and basically saying, “The judge is against us, we’re going to lose, 343 00:25:33,523 --> 00:25:37,203 I’m going to prison, we’re not getting anywhere, it’s a waste of time.” 344 00:25:38,803 --> 00:25:42,203 Here was someone whose whole life was on the brink of collapsing. 345 00:25:42,283 --> 00:25:45,123 And, I remember thinking, well actually I agree with you. 346 00:25:45,403 --> 00:25:47,443 I actually think we are going to lose. 347 00:25:47,523 --> 00:25:51,203 I didn’t say that, but it was difficult for me to pretend otherwise. 348 00:25:57,403 --> 00:26:00,123 [Jodie Kidd] When I heard about Tulisa, 349 00:26:00,203 --> 00:26:04,083 the pain, that I knew that she would be going through, 350 00:26:04,923 --> 00:26:09,323 the frustration, the betrayal, all of those things 351 00:26:09,403 --> 00:26:12,363 definitely kind of came back up again, 352 00:26:12,443 --> 00:26:18,163 of just another person that’s, that’s a victim of this man. 353 00:26:25,603 --> 00:26:29,483 When I saw the article for the first time, 354 00:26:29,563 --> 00:26:33,323 it was like total, kind of panic 355 00:26:33,403 --> 00:26:36,523 that I could have been so stupid. 356 00:26:36,603 --> 00:26:38,603 That I fell into a trap. 357 00:26:38,963 --> 00:26:43,723 You know, of course, there is a point where I made that phone call, 358 00:26:43,803 --> 00:26:47,723 but I know what they did, and I know how they led me into these conversations. 359 00:26:47,803 --> 00:26:50,003 I know how they manipulated things. 360 00:26:50,083 --> 00:26:52,683 You know, I know the depths of where they went. 361 00:27:01,843 --> 00:27:06,883 About 2007 I was a successful model 362 00:27:07,363 --> 00:27:09,763 and I was 26-27 years old. 363 00:27:10,443 --> 00:27:13,963 And my brother Jack, he was a professional polo player 364 00:27:17,043 --> 00:27:18,483 and I remember him saying 365 00:27:18,563 --> 00:27:21,803 “I’ve been approached by this very very wealthy Sheikh 366 00:27:21,923 --> 00:27:23,683 that lived in Dubai." 367 00:27:24,643 --> 00:27:29,123 They had months and months of meetings with Jack. 368 00:27:31,323 --> 00:27:34,403 Jack then says “Look he wants to put on this event, 369 00:27:35,603 --> 00:27:40,323 "and he wants to do a polo and a fashion event, 370 00:27:40,403 --> 00:27:44,003 "and he would really love you to come on and to be an advisor 371 00:27:44,083 --> 00:27:46,683 "on the fashion front, maybe do a fashion show, 372 00:27:46,763 --> 00:27:49,123 "get some of your friends along and designers." 373 00:27:49,683 --> 00:27:52,283 And he’s like “please do it’ and I said “fine.” 374 00:27:53,603 --> 00:27:55,883 So, I went up to London, 375 00:27:57,323 --> 00:28:01,163 got dropped off on Park Lane, outside of this apartment building. 376 00:28:02,603 --> 00:28:06,803 We were greeted by the Sheikh’s right-hand man, 377 00:28:07,483 --> 00:28:11,123 you know, he’ll be the one that will be organising everything. 378 00:28:13,283 --> 00:28:18,843 And then, the Sheikh walked in and, you know, looks very regal. 379 00:28:18,923 --> 00:28:21,523 And then they said “Right, we’ll have some food.” 380 00:28:21,603 --> 00:28:24,883 So, through the meal he is talking about that, 381 00:28:24,963 --> 00:28:28,163 you know, they’re going to be putting millions into this event, 382 00:28:28,243 --> 00:28:32,763 and let's talk about dates, so it’s really positive, kind of, 383 00:28:32,843 --> 00:28:35,683 really fun, like, oh my goodness this is gonna be great. 384 00:28:40,203 --> 00:28:43,883 And another glass of wine comes, and we start chatting, 385 00:28:43,963 --> 00:28:46,363 and it starts becoming a much more relaxed chat. 386 00:28:46,763 --> 00:28:51,723 His right hand man starts going into, the Sheikh, “He loves to party, 387 00:28:51,803 --> 00:28:54,563 "Do you guys know anything about drugs?” 388 00:28:54,643 --> 00:28:58,643 Which I thought was a bit weird, but you don’t ask too many questions, 389 00:28:58,723 --> 00:29:01,363 especially if you’re from a different country, 390 00:29:01,443 --> 00:29:03,963 they have different ways, different manners, 391 00:29:04,043 --> 00:29:06,923 so you know all those little kind of moments 392 00:29:07,003 --> 00:29:11,283 when you go “that’s a bit odd” you think it got lost in translation along the way. 393 00:29:12,203 --> 00:29:16,883 And they started asking about getting them drugs. 394 00:29:19,443 --> 00:29:24,123 So I was like, oh God. You know this guy is about to change, certainly Jack’s life, 395 00:29:24,203 --> 00:29:26,563 but you know, create a nice new business, 396 00:29:26,643 --> 00:29:28,403 we’re all going to make some money. 397 00:29:29,123 --> 00:29:32,603 I just felt incredible pressure. 398 00:29:34,363 --> 00:29:37,723 We were trying to rack our brains for someone who knew someone 399 00:29:37,803 --> 00:29:39,323 that knew somebody. 400 00:29:39,403 --> 00:29:42,843 And so I made a phone call. 401 00:29:42,923 --> 00:29:44,643 That’s all I did. 402 00:29:44,723 --> 00:29:47,603 But it was the biggest mistake of my life. 403 00:29:54,803 --> 00:29:59,683 The saddest thing is, you know it destroyed our family. 404 00:29:59,763 --> 00:30:04,483 I still haven't got a relationship with my brother because of it. 405 00:30:04,563 --> 00:30:06,723 Because for me, it’s been too painful. 406 00:30:06,803 --> 00:30:11,243 I have anger, my trust went completely out the window. 407 00:30:11,323 --> 00:30:13,443 I didn’t trust anyone. 408 00:30:13,523 --> 00:30:18,083 So it’s had huge, huge negative effects. 409 00:30:22,083 --> 00:30:26,723 I had the most awful phone calls with the heads of these huge companies 410 00:30:26,803 --> 00:30:30,843 that I was the face for, going, "We’ve got to rip up the contract." 411 00:30:31,683 --> 00:30:34,523 So, that was a very painful moment, 412 00:30:34,603 --> 00:30:39,683 and just seeing kind of your whole, kind of career, just disappear. 413 00:30:41,523 --> 00:30:42,563 Sorry... 414 00:30:43,763 --> 00:30:45,283 Terrible. 415 00:30:48,043 --> 00:30:49,403 [exhales deeply] 416 00:30:50,003 --> 00:30:55,643 But you know, you’d worked so hard to build these relationships 417 00:30:55,723 --> 00:30:58,923 and these careers, my career, 418 00:30:59,723 --> 00:31:05,323 just for, just for a stupid moment 419 00:31:06,883 --> 00:31:12,803 that you were completely kind of groomed and manipulated to make. 420 00:31:15,923 --> 00:31:19,363 It took years and years and years and years 421 00:31:19,443 --> 00:31:22,243 to recover my career. 422 00:31:23,123 --> 00:31:26,443 Emotionally, as you can see, it still hasn’t. 423 00:31:26,523 --> 00:31:31,043 But all of those years of tears and pain 424 00:31:31,123 --> 00:31:34,803 and anger because of this man. 425 00:31:39,883 --> 00:31:42,523 If you are going to be a celebrity in the public eye, 426 00:31:42,603 --> 00:31:45,523 the public have a right to expect certain morals from you, 427 00:31:45,603 --> 00:31:47,723 a certain standard, certain codes from you. 428 00:31:47,803 --> 00:31:50,243 We don’t ruin their lives, they ruin their own lives. 429 00:31:50,323 --> 00:31:52,643 I get that repeatedly, "You've destroyed my life." 430 00:31:52,723 --> 00:31:54,523 I tell people, look I've not destroyed your life 431 00:31:54,563 --> 00:31:55,403 You've destroyed your own life. 432 00:31:55,483 --> 00:31:56,883 You made these choices. 433 00:31:58,163 --> 00:32:01,443 [Paul Samrai] He was very denigrating of celebs. 434 00:32:01,523 --> 00:32:05,483 He didn’t feel a lot of them deserved to be where they were, in the public eye. 435 00:32:07,283 --> 00:32:11,323 The bigger they are the harder they fall, that was his sort of belief 436 00:32:11,403 --> 00:32:13,243 when he was tackling these stories. 437 00:32:13,323 --> 00:32:17,323 Let’s go for the biggest that we can get and there you see, 438 00:32:17,883 --> 00:32:22,563 royalty, big celebs, politicians, 439 00:32:22,643 --> 00:32:25,283 you know, all fair game to him. 440 00:32:25,363 --> 00:32:26,843 He revelled in that. 441 00:32:28,443 --> 00:32:32,243 I’m a journalist, that’s what we do, we publish stories, we sell newspapers, 442 00:32:32,323 --> 00:32:33,563 that’s what we do, 443 00:32:35,203 --> 00:32:38,763 I’m not a police officer, I’m not a social worker, I’m a journalist. 444 00:32:48,923 --> 00:32:51,683 [sniffing] So... 445 00:32:56,243 --> 00:32:58,003 here I am again. 446 00:33:01,963 --> 00:33:04,883 I actually just don’t even know what to say anymore. 447 00:33:07,043 --> 00:33:09,043 I’m filming this because 448 00:33:11,403 --> 00:33:16,443 I’m so sick of people not knowing what is really going on. 449 00:33:18,363 --> 00:33:21,203 I really just want it all to end. 450 00:33:21,843 --> 00:33:26,363 I don’t want to be this person anymore, I don’t want to be famous anymore 451 00:33:31,563 --> 00:33:33,603 [tense music] 452 00:33:46,563 --> 00:33:49,283 [Jeremy Dein] Focusing on Mahmood’s entry into court, 453 00:33:49,363 --> 00:33:52,363 normally a witness will come in through the public entrance, 454 00:33:52,443 --> 00:33:54,923 whereas Mahmood came in through the judge’s door, 455 00:33:57,643 --> 00:34:01,763 where he was behind a screen on the basis that he was at risk 456 00:34:01,843 --> 00:34:05,763 because of the public interest work that he was doing. 457 00:34:05,843 --> 00:34:09,883 And that meant that he had a status that no other witness ever had. 458 00:34:12,043 --> 00:34:16,043 And it just consolidated this feeling that he was something special. 459 00:34:18,483 --> 00:34:21,403 I knew that I was sort of going into battle with someone 460 00:34:21,483 --> 00:34:25,163 who was case-hardened, you know, had no fear, 461 00:34:25,203 --> 00:34:27,923 had no restraints, 462 00:34:28,563 --> 00:34:35,003 was capable of actually saying anything about her or me at any time. 463 00:34:36,803 --> 00:34:40,683 His behaviour towards me was arrogant, combative and dismissive, 464 00:34:40,803 --> 00:34:43,923 like saying your ears are so big you should be able to hear me, 465 00:34:44,003 --> 00:34:45,403 or something like that. 466 00:34:47,123 --> 00:34:50,323 It was definitely peppered with references to Tulisa, 467 00:34:50,403 --> 00:34:54,963 along the lines of, “Look, what you’re asking me did I say this, did I say that? 468 00:34:55,043 --> 00:34:57,203 "Why does that matter? She’s a cocaine dealer 469 00:34:57,323 --> 00:35:01,243 that’s what you should be worried about.” That was his style of giving evidence. 470 00:35:02,643 --> 00:35:04,843 But what Mazher Mahmood didn’t know 471 00:35:04,923 --> 00:35:08,243 is that we had come across a bombshell 472 00:35:09,043 --> 00:35:11,883 and we were waiting to hit him with it. 473 00:35:23,683 --> 00:35:25,363 I was astonished, 474 00:35:26,203 --> 00:35:28,603 on the day before the cross-examination, 475 00:35:28,683 --> 00:35:31,683 Mahmood’s driver, Alan Smith contacted us, 476 00:35:31,803 --> 00:35:34,123 and he said, I want to speak to you. 477 00:35:34,803 --> 00:35:37,963 He told us that Mahmood had told him to change his statement, 478 00:35:38,043 --> 00:35:39,683 and that there’d been emails. 479 00:35:43,683 --> 00:35:47,203 I knew we had hit the jackpot. 480 00:35:52,203 --> 00:35:54,603 I had decided to leave the whole topic 481 00:35:54,683 --> 00:35:57,883 of Alan Smith’s statement until the very end. 482 00:36:01,043 --> 00:36:02,963 Then I asked Mahmood 483 00:36:03,043 --> 00:36:06,163 whether he’d spoken to Alan Smith about his statement, 484 00:36:06,203 --> 00:36:10,003 to which Mahmood responded something like, “I might have done, 485 00:36:10,083 --> 00:36:11,683 what’s it got to do with you?” 486 00:36:11,723 --> 00:36:15,963 Which is an astonishingly inappropriate and disrespectful answer 487 00:36:16,043 --> 00:36:17,523 for a witness to give. 488 00:36:17,603 --> 00:36:21,563 I’d asked Mahmood the same thing at the legal arguments hearing 489 00:36:21,643 --> 00:36:23,683 and Mahmood had said no. 490 00:36:25,083 --> 00:36:29,163 The judge instantaneously intervened 491 00:36:29,203 --> 00:36:33,363 and effectively said to Mahmood, “You lied to me on the legal arguments hearing, 492 00:36:33,443 --> 00:36:35,723 "you told me that you hadn’t spoken to him, 493 00:36:35,843 --> 00:36:38,683 "now you’re saying you might have done, tell the truth!” 494 00:36:43,883 --> 00:36:46,683 From that moment onwards, Mahmood was done for. 495 00:36:47,923 --> 00:36:51,123 In those few seconds, he was wiped out. 496 00:36:53,403 --> 00:36:58,123 The judge then turned to the prosecutor and said, “I’m throwing this out.” 497 00:36:59,443 --> 00:37:01,483 Mahmood, he disintegrated. 498 00:37:01,563 --> 00:37:06,443 This rude, aggressive, dismissive, confrontational, 499 00:37:06,523 --> 00:37:09,683 you know, all-powerful individual, was just reduced 500 00:37:09,723 --> 00:37:14,123 to a quivering wreck and you could see that he was saying to himself, 501 00:37:14,203 --> 00:37:15,243 “It’s over.” 502 00:37:19,363 --> 00:37:21,323 And, you know, Tulisa was ecstatic. 503 00:37:25,363 --> 00:37:27,883 She had genuinely thought it was lost 504 00:37:27,963 --> 00:37:30,483 and she couldn’t believe it. 505 00:37:30,563 --> 00:37:31,843 [paparazzi] Tulisa! 506 00:37:40,923 --> 00:37:45,203 This whole case was a horrific and disgusting entrapment 507 00:37:45,323 --> 00:37:46,923 by Mazher Mahmood. 508 00:37:47,003 --> 00:37:50,203 We have now succeeded in exposing the real culprit, 509 00:37:50,243 --> 00:37:53,523 and most importantly, the real liar. 510 00:37:54,003 --> 00:37:57,883 As someone who has had my life ruined for the past year, 511 00:37:57,963 --> 00:38:01,323 I strongly believe that this type of entrapment 512 00:38:01,403 --> 00:38:03,923 should not be allowed to happen to anyone. 513 00:38:04,803 --> 00:38:07,963 [Emma Morgan] I remember being at home and putting the news on, 514 00:38:08,043 --> 00:38:10,803 seeing Tulisa come outside of court. 515 00:38:10,883 --> 00:38:14,563 I remember seeing how pleased she was that the truth was out. 516 00:38:15,243 --> 00:38:18,203 [reporter] Tulisa walked out of court with her name cleared. 517 00:38:18,323 --> 00:38:21,523 Her priority now to rebuild a battered career. 518 00:38:22,323 --> 00:38:25,963 I was really, really, immensely proud of what she did 519 00:38:26,043 --> 00:38:28,843 and she basically spoke for all of us. 520 00:38:31,523 --> 00:38:34,323 I was so, so happy for her, 521 00:38:34,403 --> 00:38:38,203 but a little part of me did think, wish I could have had that. 522 00:38:41,203 --> 00:38:42,443 Oh my God. 523 00:38:42,643 --> 00:38:43,643 How do you feel? 524 00:38:44,243 --> 00:38:45,683 I’m so happy. 525 00:38:47,003 --> 00:38:48,683 Oh my God, 526 00:38:49,683 --> 00:38:51,203 oh my God. 527 00:38:52,403 --> 00:38:55,523 I can’t actually believe it’s over. I can’t believe it’s over. 528 00:38:56,243 --> 00:39:01,043 It was incredibly emotional because, as often happens in criminal proceedings, 529 00:39:01,123 --> 00:39:04,963 you know, you’re thrown together with people you don’t know and you suddenly, 530 00:39:05,043 --> 00:39:09,123 you share this experience which once upon a time was irrelevant 531 00:39:09,203 --> 00:39:13,843 to your life, and now is the whole, you know, basis of your life, 532 00:39:13,923 --> 00:39:17,083 so it was very emotional, I felt really pleased for her. 533 00:39:20,603 --> 00:39:24,083 But I was also, you know, incredibly relieved 534 00:39:24,163 --> 00:39:25,883 that it hadn’t gone wrong. 535 00:39:32,483 --> 00:39:36,123 [reporter] The Sun on Sunday said they are disappointed with this outcome 536 00:39:36,723 --> 00:39:39,043 but do believe the original investigation 537 00:39:39,123 --> 00:39:42,683 was conducted within the bounds of the law and the industry’s code. 538 00:39:45,123 --> 00:39:47,683 [reporter] The judge ruled there were strong grounds 539 00:39:47,723 --> 00:39:50,243 that the undercover reporter from the Sun on Sunday 540 00:39:50,363 --> 00:39:52,723 had lied and manipulated evidence. 541 00:39:53,203 --> 00:39:56,683 The paper has now suspended the man known as The Fake Sheikh. 542 00:39:59,083 --> 00:40:03,003 It wasn’t long after that that he was charged, which was amazing. 543 00:40:03,083 --> 00:40:08,683 It was about time, you know, he faced some consequences for his actions. 544 00:40:16,043 --> 00:40:20,083 [reporter] The trial of Mazher Mahmood, the journalist known as the Fake Sheikh, 545 00:40:20,163 --> 00:40:21,923 has opened at the Old Bailey. 546 00:40:22,003 --> 00:40:24,483 He and his former driver, Alan Smith are charged 547 00:40:24,563 --> 00:40:26,443 with perverting the course of justice 548 00:40:26,523 --> 00:40:30,123 in relation to the trial of the singer, Tulisa Contostavlos. 549 00:40:33,683 --> 00:40:36,083 [Neil Wallis] I was very sad 550 00:40:36,163 --> 00:40:43,003 that Maz found himself in the situation he did and ended up on trial. 551 00:40:43,683 --> 00:40:47,003 [reporter] Has there been any reaction from Mazher Mahmood, Danny? 552 00:40:47,083 --> 00:40:50,083 [Danny] We have actually had a statement from him, delivered through his lawyers, 553 00:40:50,163 --> 00:40:52,243 in which he says he is deeply disappointed 554 00:40:52,363 --> 00:40:54,723 with the Crown Prosecution Services’ decision. 555 00:40:54,843 --> 00:40:58,843 He denies the offence and will vigorously contest it in court. 556 00:41:08,723 --> 00:41:11,563 I went to the Old Bailey to watch. 557 00:41:13,403 --> 00:41:16,203 I remember him arriving to court. 558 00:41:17,043 --> 00:41:20,083 A couple of big blokes on either side of him. 559 00:41:26,923 --> 00:41:30,563 With his little navy blue anorak, and his hood down over his head. 560 00:41:31,203 --> 00:41:33,643 [reporters shouting questions] 561 00:41:37,163 --> 00:41:40,643 You know, people shouting at him, and he was getting ushered in, 562 00:41:40,683 --> 00:41:42,243 and I thought, yeah great 563 00:41:42,963 --> 00:41:44,803 because he clearly didn’t like that. 564 00:41:45,123 --> 00:41:47,163 And I thought, now you know how it feels, 565 00:41:47,203 --> 00:41:48,683 Tulisa had the same thing 566 00:41:48,723 --> 00:41:50,363 when she was dragged into court. 567 00:41:53,323 --> 00:41:55,963 [Paul Connew] When I watched Mazher going into court, 568 00:41:56,043 --> 00:42:00,523 I just felt this was a man whose whole image 569 00:42:00,603 --> 00:42:02,403 was collapsing around him. 570 00:42:03,363 --> 00:42:05,243 The wheel had turned full circle. 571 00:42:09,883 --> 00:42:14,243 [Emma Morgan] When I saw Mazher in court, at the Old Bailey, 572 00:42:15,443 --> 00:42:19,203 he looked a little bit beaten, his shoulders were a bit hunched, 573 00:42:19,323 --> 00:42:20,523 his head was down. 574 00:42:21,923 --> 00:42:24,323 But I still got the feeling 575 00:42:24,403 --> 00:42:29,523 that it was just a cold, emotionless human, standing there. 576 00:42:32,203 --> 00:42:36,043 [Jeremy Dein] Mahmood didn’t plead guilty. He tried to evade responsibility. 577 00:42:36,123 --> 00:42:37,723 So, no remorse. 578 00:42:40,003 --> 00:42:43,603 But what does in my view, speak very loudly, 579 00:42:43,683 --> 00:42:45,803 is that he never opened his mouth. 580 00:42:49,083 --> 00:42:53,363 Having run around, seeking to entrap people, 581 00:42:57,243 --> 00:43:01,123 when it came to explaining his own criminal acts, 582 00:43:01,203 --> 00:43:05,403 he had nothing to say, I mean, it’s quite a state of affairs, isn’t it? 583 00:43:06,963 --> 00:43:08,043 Incredible. 584 00:43:08,443 --> 00:43:10,563 Now some breaking news, we’ve got a verdict 585 00:43:10,643 --> 00:43:12,923 in the trial of the so-called Fake Sheikh. 586 00:43:13,043 --> 00:43:15,803 Mazher Mahmood, accused of tampering with evidence 587 00:43:15,883 --> 00:43:19,363 in the collapsed drugs trial of the pop star, Tulisa Contostavlos. 588 00:43:19,443 --> 00:43:21,883 Let’s go to Richard Lister at the Old Bailey. 589 00:43:21,963 --> 00:43:23,803 What is the verdict, Richard? 590 00:43:25,363 --> 00:43:28,603 The verdict, Joanna, is that both Mazher Mahmood 591 00:43:28,683 --> 00:43:31,843 the so-called fake sheikh and his former driver, Alan Smith, 592 00:43:31,923 --> 00:43:35,683 have both been found guilty of conspiring to pervert the course of justice. 593 00:43:35,803 --> 00:43:38,203 Yes! We’ve nailed the bastard. 594 00:43:39,163 --> 00:43:42,283 [journalist] Mr Mahmood, what would you like to say to Tulisa? 595 00:43:42,363 --> 00:43:46,203 Why did you tamper the evidence? Would you like to apologise for Tulisa? 596 00:43:46,283 --> 00:43:48,483 Are you sorry? What do you say to that? 597 00:43:50,763 --> 00:43:53,323 [Emma Morgan] When the guilty verdict came in, 598 00:43:53,403 --> 00:43:56,723 I did feel a real sense of relief. 599 00:43:56,803 --> 00:43:59,843 [journalist] Did you lie to get a front-page headline? 600 00:43:59,923 --> 00:44:02,723 What do you say to that? Mr Mahmood what’s your reaction? 601 00:44:04,483 --> 00:44:07,123 [Emma Morgan] I didn’t quite realise until that point 602 00:44:07,203 --> 00:44:09,563 how much that would actually mean to me. 603 00:44:09,643 --> 00:44:13,883 Him getting that guilty, I almost felt like I’d been vindicated. 604 00:44:24,723 --> 00:44:28,043 [reporter] Mazher Mahmood, the man better known as The Fake Sheikh 605 00:44:28,123 --> 00:44:31,043 is beginning a fifteen-month jail sentence tonight. 606 00:44:37,283 --> 00:44:42,003 The way people turned against him for me was probably the hardest thing. 607 00:44:43,963 --> 00:44:47,323 [reporter] Mahmood has now been sacked by his employer, News UK, 608 00:44:47,403 --> 00:44:48,883 owned by Rupert Murdoch. 609 00:44:50,003 --> 00:44:54,003 Everyone who built him up to be who he was 610 00:44:55,283 --> 00:44:56,483 let him fall. 611 00:45:00,203 --> 00:45:03,483 For him, having to lose the status, 612 00:45:04,243 --> 00:45:05,683 the reputation, 613 00:45:06,603 --> 00:45:08,763 must have been very, very difficult. 614 00:45:12,403 --> 00:45:14,403 In an instant, 615 00:45:15,403 --> 00:45:17,643 you know, it was gone. 616 00:45:20,763 --> 00:45:25,723 [Paul Samrai] He would hate for that to be what he’s remembered for most. 617 00:45:25,803 --> 00:45:28,403 Is going to prison. 618 00:45:28,483 --> 00:45:30,923 That’s the killer, the absolute killer for him 619 00:45:31,003 --> 00:45:34,883 because it wipes away Journalist of the Year, 620 00:45:34,963 --> 00:45:38,163 Scoop of the Year you know, it wipes away all of those awards. 621 00:45:38,243 --> 00:45:40,443 And it’s a shame 622 00:45:40,523 --> 00:45:44,163 because there was good stuff that he did. 623 00:45:44,243 --> 00:45:47,603 So much top-notch journalism 624 00:45:48,843 --> 00:45:50,363 is forgotten 625 00:45:51,123 --> 00:45:53,723 because of what happened at the end of his career. 626 00:45:56,523 --> 00:46:01,363 I wondered, if he’d been more closely supervised 627 00:46:01,443 --> 00:46:03,123 all the way through his career, 628 00:46:03,563 --> 00:46:05,123 whether it would have happened? 629 00:46:08,443 --> 00:46:10,483 Maybe Maz was failed to some extent. 630 00:46:18,643 --> 00:46:23,203 Mazher Mahmood, for me, during his 30-year career, 631 00:46:23,883 --> 00:46:26,043 masqueraded as a good guy, 632 00:46:27,403 --> 00:46:34,403 when in fact he was just an evil, evil, life-wrecker, career-wrecker. 633 00:46:37,003 --> 00:46:40,643 He just didn’t care. He would do whatever he had to do 634 00:46:40,723 --> 00:46:43,643 to get the story, and that’s not journalism. 635 00:46:46,643 --> 00:46:49,643 [Paul Samrai] He used to go out doing a story 636 00:46:51,283 --> 00:46:53,563 intending it to be the front page. 637 00:46:56,683 --> 00:46:59,883 The end justifies the means. 638 00:46:59,963 --> 00:47:01,683 And that should be his motto. 639 00:47:02,683 --> 00:47:06,123 Even if it means destroying, or attempting to destroy someone’s life, 640 00:47:06,203 --> 00:47:07,243 like Tulisa. 641 00:47:07,323 --> 00:47:10,363 He has no sense of guilt, no conscience, 642 00:47:11,003 --> 00:47:12,123 no morality. 643 00:47:27,323 --> 00:47:30,163 [Paul Samrai] When he was released from prison, 644 00:47:30,243 --> 00:47:31,723 he disappeared. 645 00:47:35,163 --> 00:47:39,443 There’s enormous interest to find out where he is and what he’s doing. 646 00:47:40,003 --> 00:47:41,163 And to expose him. 647 00:47:44,123 --> 00:47:46,563 But nobody knows where he is. 648 00:47:51,043 --> 00:47:52,083 He’s clever. 649 00:47:52,883 --> 00:47:55,083 He’s clever. He would survive. 650 00:47:59,683 --> 00:48:03,723 [Paul Samrai] There was some rumour that he was freelancing under another name. 651 00:48:04,963 --> 00:48:06,603 Working at another newspaper. 652 00:48:07,963 --> 00:48:09,403 But nobody really knows. 653 00:48:13,683 --> 00:48:15,923 Again, clouded in secrecy. 654 00:48:18,963 --> 00:48:23,483 And that, probably, is where he feels most comfortable. 655 00:48:33,803 --> 00:48:36,843 [Emily Maitlis] Are you very fond of your Fake Sheikh robes? 656 00:48:36,923 --> 00:48:39,923 [Mazher Mahmood] I am yeah, I've had a lot of fun with it. 657 00:48:41,083 --> 00:48:44,883 And all the trappings of the Sheikh, it's such a polished performance. 658 00:48:44,963 --> 00:48:46,243 You get away with it. 659 00:48:47,203 --> 00:48:49,283 You use that phrase, we get away with it. 660 00:48:49,363 --> 00:48:53,123 Do you ever feel a little bit uncomfortable in your own skin 661 00:48:53,203 --> 00:48:55,643 - that this is the way you operate? - Not at all. 662 00:48:55,723 --> 00:48:58,363 I'm proud of what I do, I wouldn't do it otherwise. 663 00:48:59,283 --> 00:49:01,643 [Emily Maitlis] Mazher Mahmood, thanks very much indeed. 664 00:49:01,723 --> 00:49:02,843 [Mazher Mahmood] Pleasure. 665 00:49:03,203 --> 00:49:05,843 [end credit music]