Former News of the World managing editor Stuart Kuttner has said he is “deeply sorry” and “ashamed” for the fact phone-hacking that went on at his newspaper.

But Kuttner, 74, who was found not guilty this week when the phone-hacking trial concluded, denied the suggestion he had been “presiding over” the criminality.

He has also accused the state, Metropolitan Police and Crown Prosecution Service of a “stitch-up”.