View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Publishers
  2. National Newspapers
November 6, 2013updated 07 Nov 2013 2:20pm

Mystery woman called recruitment firm claiming to be Milly Dowler’s mother, court told

By Darren Boyle

A mystery woman rang a recruitment firm wrongly linked by the News of the World to Milly Dowler's disappearance claiming to be  the schoolgirl's  mum, the hacking trial has heard.
 
In a statement read into the court, Valerie Hancox, who ran the Mondays recruitment firm, revealed: "We know what's going on with Milly Dowler and we believe she's working for you.

"I'm her mother and I want to know where she is."

Later a News of the World reporter doorstepped Hancox, asking to speak to her.

“He told me he was investigating the Milly Dowler disappearance," she said. "He had a photographer with him. He told me he was helping the police with inquiries and asked to come in."

She went on: "I didn't know what the reporter was talking about. I have to say I was scared."

Ms Hancox added: "Surrey Police confirmed that they were not working with the News of the World."

Earlier the court heard that a message had been left on Dowler’s phone by mistake by a member of staff at the agency.

News of the World managing editor Stuart Kuttner rang Surrey Police on 13 April 2002 informing them about the message on the murdered schoolgirl’s phone.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

All defendants deny the charges. 

The trial continues

 

Topics in this article : , ,

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network