The Guardian‘s in-house phone hacker David Leigh has laughably claimed that he didn’t know hacking into people’s phones was against the law. Leigh told Press Gazette: “at the time I was not conscious that it was a criminal offence. Since then it’s been made plain that it is a crime. I don’t like the idea of going about committing criminal offences, so I wouldn’t do it again for that reason“.

Regular Guido readers will remember that Leigh has previously admitted gaining a “voyeuristic thrill” from listening to private phone conversations. Given that Leigh has lied to Guido in the past, it might be advised to take his plea of ignorance with a large piece of salt. It’s also reassuring to know the only thing holding Leigh back from hacking phones again is that annoying little thing called the law…