News of the World registry. In 2006, reporters at the paper used private investigators to illegally gain access to hundreds of mobile phone voicemail accounts held by a variety of people of interest to the newspaper. In 2007 the paper's royal correspondent, Clive Goodman, pleaded guilty to illegal interception of personal communication and was jailed for four months; the paper's editor, Andy Coulson, had resigned two weeks earlier. In 2009/2010, further revelations emerged on the extent of the phone hacking, and how it was common knowledge within the "News of the World" and its News International parent. According to a former reporter at the
News of the World royal phone hacking scandal their case, News International hired London-based media specialist solicitors Harbottle & Lewis. At this time, Harbottle & Lewis were also acting for the offices of Prince Charles in their debates with the Metropolitan Police's investigations with regards to the hacking of the phones of his sons, Princes William and Harry. During its work for News International, Harbottle & Lewis took possession of hundreds of internal emails. In a letter dated 29 May 2007, sent to News International head of legal affairs Jon Chapman, Lawrence Abramson of Harbottle & Lewis wrote that: This letter was subsequently used by various News International