Phone Hacking 1999 - Tabloids, Authorities and Vodafone all involved. - Steven Nott appeared at The Leveson Inquiry for warning the authorities in 1999 about phone hacking.

See the full morning hearing including my testimony at The Leveson Inquiry http://www.levesoninquiry.org.uk/hearing/2011-12-06am/

Full transcript. http://www.levesoninquiry.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Transcript-of-Morning-Hearing-6-December-2011.pdf

Witness statement. http://www.levesoninquiry.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Witness-Statement-of-Steven-Nott.pdf

The story from the start.

I was working as a Sales manager for a food company based in South Wales. I used to ask all of my new customers to call and leave their first orders on my voicemail as I was driving most of the time and couldn't write down the orders even though I was using a handsfree system. I used to stop at certain times of the day to access my voicemail from my mobile phone handset and write the new customers orders down and then call them through to Sharon at the Sales office and she would take over from there and get the orders sent down to production ready to be produced and then despatched to the customer.
The Vodafone network went down one afternoon, about the time I needed to access my voicemail to forward all of the new orders through to Sharon. I had no way of accessing the voicemail as there was no network coverage. I was in a panic and stopped at the service station and called Vodafone customer services from a phone box.
Vodafone explained to me that it wasn't a problem and I could access my voicemails in another way. I was told to call my mobile number 07774......wait for it to go to voicemail and after i heard the message "this is the Vodafone Recall Sefvice for 07774...... please leave a message after the tone" When I heard the tone, I was told to press '9' and I would be prompted to enter my security code. I wasn't aware there was a security code on my voicemail system and told the customer service operator this and she said it's "ok, you'rs is still on default. Just type in 3333 and then you will have access to your voicemail". I instantly thought that this sounds a bit insecure and questioned Vodafone and asked them "If that's the case then, I could do this with anyone's phone and access their voicemail in the same way". I was told that I could but also told I wasn't supposed to. Once into the voicemail, the welcome greeting could be changed, the messages could be listened to and deleted if need be and the voicemail security number could be reset to any chosen code taking it off default.
I didn't do anything straight away and continued to do my work. With the knowledge of voicemail interception, I did have some fun with my friends phones and work colleagues. Everyone knew me as a bit of a joker and asked me to stop messing about when I'd changed their welcome greeting on their voicemail. I would put a silly voice on and add a new welcome greeting to some peoples' phones just for a laugh not realising immediately the real issue and implications of future security.

Tackling the Mobile Giant Vodafone with the security issue.

I had stumbled across something that I realised straight away was not secure. It took me a while to think about what could be done with the 'phone hacking ' method and started to discuss the implications with friends and work colleagues. One colleague particularly as he was Ex SAS and told me many a time that the systmen was probably left open for a reason. He always referred to Security Services and the Police using the Phone Hacking method for their own purposes of counter terrorism and intelligence.
I took my concerns to Vodafone by contacting them on numerous occasions explaining to them the implications and the threat to National Security. They never took any notice of me and always kept fobbing me off with the attitude of 'change your PIN' and there won't be a problem. I was never happy with their lack of 'taking me seriously' and carried on badgering them to change their system and make it more secure. However, I never managed to get them interested.

Catastrophic decision to ask the tabloids for help.

I had to do something. I had stumbled across a possible future threat to National Security and wasn't getting anywhere with the actual organization that had the issue. Vodafone didn't want to know. Maybe it was because they were in a hostile takeover worth £72 Billion with Mannessman the German Mobile Giant and didn't want any publicity.
I decided to take my story to the press and called The Daily Mirror. I picked them because my grandfather always bought the paper and I knew they could be trusted. In fact at the time, I though all newspapers could be trusted. The Daily Mirror was the first tabloid I called and was put in tocuh with Oonagh Blackman at the Newsdesk. I'd never heard of her before and explained to her everything I'd discovered and the issue I was having with Vodafone and asked her for help to expose Vodafone's lack of security.
Ms Blackman looked into the story and explained to me after trying out the phone hacking method and doing some research that it was going to be one of the biggest stories that decade. We kept in touch almost daily and I was told each time how they were doing with the story. It was explained to me that because of the amount of mobile numbers they had of many publicly profiled people it was taking a lot of resources and was told that 'everyone' in the newsroom was onto the story adding to it.
After 12 days, I called Ms Blackman concerned that the story hadn't been published in the Daily Mirror and asked about this. Ms Blackman told me that theye were no longer going to run the story. I was never given a reason, only the fact that it wasn not going to be run. The story had been spiked and I didn't know why. Our phonecall ended.
I then called Oonagh Blackman and demanded some answers. I didn't get any and so I then accused Ms Blackman and The Daily Mirror or keeping the 'phone hacking' method for their own purposes and to get snippets of news and scoops.
Ms Blackman threatened me with legal action if I told anyone this.

Ms Blackman sent me an unexpected payment about 4 weeks after for a £100 and with a receipt titled 'Mobile Phone Scandal' dated 20 Sept 1999. See below

I then decided then to take my story to a rival newspaper because I thought at the time I had given the Daily Mirror a way to get free news stories.

I contacted Paul Crosbie at The Sun newspaper and was invited into News International HQ in Wapping to explain my findings and get them interested in my story trying to Expose Vodafone and also the story involving Ms Blackman at The Daily Mirror.
I waited for Mr Crosbie who was Consumer Affairs correspondent for The Sun in the gatehouse for nearly an hour before he turned up. When he arrived, we walked out of the security building and across the road into the main foyer and then proceded to wak up a gigantic flight of stairs but then Paul decided at the time it was better to have our meeting outside of the building.
Paul at The Sun, was very interested in my story and we talked a lot about Royal security, stock traders, terrorism, private investigators and celebrities. My meeting with Paul lasted about 40 minutes and I showed him to access voicemail on the Vodafone network by using some of his colleagues mobile numbers he had given me at the time. This demonstration was done outside the main building but within the grounds of news International. Paul Crosbie said it would be a very good story a would try and get it published within 48 hours. he also said that Oonagh Blackman and The Daily Mirror were 'very naughty' not to have published it and you could tell exactly what he was thinking, however we didn't discuss it in detail what they may be using the phone hacking method for.
We parted company. Some days went by with no story in the Mirror or in The Sun and I felt that i made a catastrphic decision to take my Vodafone exposure story to the tabloids. I couldn't believe i was so stupid to have done such a thing.
I was never able to get hold of Paul Crosbie again and realised I may have cocked up big time.

Reporting my findings to the authorities.

I called New Scotland Yard, The Home Office, The Department of Trade and Industry, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and MI5. All of these governement departments were not interested. However, MI5 did thank me for the information.
I then wrote to all of these departments apart from MI5. I didn't know their address. I sent them all a letter explaing my findings about insecure voicemail and also the contact I'd had with the Tabloids with the names and dates of contacts. I never received a reply from any of these departments even though my name address and phone numbers were all printed in the letters. I asked Operation Weeting to locate this letter during my interview in July 2011 but I have yet to receive a proper response from them. I was told that EVERY letter was archived and filed accordingly even it was a 'nutter' writing in.

My 1999 media coverage.

After trying every way possible to expose the security risk and the fact I had told the tabloids I eventually got some publicity. Firstly, Radio 5 Live got me on air with Mike Caldwell, a spokeperson from Vodafone where Vodafone admitted the phone hacking could be done but fobbed everyone off by saying there was 'no risk'and to 'change your PIN'. This was broadcast on 22 October 1999 at 1345 hrs and the audio archive cannot be found but a Radio 5 Live reported found the engineers transcript which shows part of the show. Here is the transcript below.

Time now for business, here's Adam Kirtley, Adam a serious worry about mobile phones.

Adam: Absolutely Fi, but not a health worry this time.......a welsh businessman has highlighted what he considers to be a major security risk when using Vodaphone mobile phones.....he claims that anyone can access other peoples Vodaphone voicemail, from anyphone anywhere in the world.....just by dialling a few numbers. Basically it's to do with the PIN number that you have to access voicemail. Steve Knott says he found out about the problem by accident.

[GOTO AUDIO

NAME: edit of vodaphone

NUMBER: 7318

OUT WORDS: "....every walk of life."

DURATION:1'27"]

Well it does sound worrying, and just to prove how easy it is I tried it with Steves phone, from a normal phone in our office...

(SM NOTE:!! Please leave my mic open throughout this as I have to talk in the gaps!!)

[GOTO AUDIO

NAME: VF1

NUMBER: 7334

OUT WORDS: "...key one"

DURATION:0'18"]

And basically you then just follow the instructions...and I indeed changed Steves greeting message, with his permission of course! Callers to his phone now hear this!

[GOTO AUDIO

NAME: VF 2

NUMBER: 7339

OUT WORDS: FX: Beep

DURATION:0'16"]

So it can be done....well joining me now from Vodaphones home town of Newbury is Mike Caldwell from Vodaphones Corporate Communications. Mike, this is a real worry isn't it....it does seem ridiculous.

Ok so they should change their pin, but if you get a switch card through the post, you don't get a default pin that applies to every switch card!

You have been aware of this for years, why not change it.

Ok, well now everyone knows about it, will you change it.

So the message is simple, change your PIN!

Mike thanks.

Scary isn't it

The South Wales Argus also covered my story but only about the insecurity of Vodafone voicemails and ran a story on 13th October 1999. See the article below

I called Paul Murphy MP in January 2000.

I telephoned Paul Murphy, my MP for Torfaen asking him for help. He was the Secretary of State for Wales and went on to become Sec of State for Northern Ireland and Chairman of the Defence Committee. Mr Murphy told me over the phone "It had nothig to do with him and asked my why I was telling him". This was the point I felt completely let down and failed by the system that should be protecting us all. I was having difficulty taking my campaign further. The walls of silence and everything falling on 'deaf ears' was too much to deal with single handedly.

Something had to give.

My health, family issues and resulting breakdown.

Whilst all this was going on and my campaign to try and expose the issues I was also having to do my daily job which was very demanding. My father was dying and I lost my driving licence on 15th December 1999 for speeding. It was all getting too much. We had a young baby in the house and my mother wasn't coping very well with my father's health. It was all getting 'too much' and after taking advice from my father I sought help from my Doctor. It was one of the last things my father asked me to do before he died.
My doctor told me that I was having a 'breakdown and that was when the realisation of breakdown dawned on me. I broke down in tears on that day.
My doctor went through my health and looked into things that may have triggered such a breakdown. I explained to my doctor I was having visual problems and my eyes kept getting 'blurred'
I discussed the family issues I had, my driving licence loss, my father dying, the workload and also the campaign I was running to expose Vodafone.
My doctor was very concerned with all of these issues and referred me to a local psychiatrist for further help.
I was prescribed anti depressant medication to help me through the healing process. I came off the medication after 3 weeks explaining to me doctor it was making me 'zombie like' on a daily basis.
My Psychiatrist wrote notes about my health and said I was having 'delusional beliefs'. See below the letter from the psychiatrist to me doctor. Pay particular attention to the highlighted pink areas.

The notes above have been condensed. They start at the top in March 2000 and then end in May 2000. There are many notes which haven't been included but the last highlighted pink area shows that the Doctor formed the opinion in May 2000 that I was probably never psychotic, but simply approaching the mobile phone issue with the sort of zeal that I approach everything else in life.

The Mail on Sunday article on May 7th 2000 called 'Mobile Phone Snooper Scam'

The news article below was covered in the Mail on Sunday. It goes into much depth about how easy it was to intercept voicemail with Vodafone. The full text is below the article.

By Christopher Leake and Daniel Foggo

The reason the message systems are vulnerable to eavesdropping is that all new BT Cellnet and Vodafone mobile owners are given the same four digit access code. A MAJOR security flaw in britain's mobile phone system can be exposed today.A special investigation by The Mail on Sunday reveals how millions of mobile users could, without their knowledge, have their private messages accessed by strangers.The onus is on individual users to input a new code. The vast majority of phone owners fail to do so - almost always, The Mail on Sunday has discovered, because they are simply unaware that such action is necessary.However, growing numbers of fraudsters, crooks and stalkers do know the secret. And it enables them effortlessly to access the sensitive phone messages of countless thousands of unknowing targets.All subscribers are vulnerable, including Cabinet Ministers, MP's, VIP's, businessmen and showbusiness personalities.In the City, financiers say they are horrified after discovering how easy it is to be 'bugged' by predators trying to get advance information about share deals and mergers.A team of Mail on Sunday investigators accessed the mobile messages of 12 VIP's within seconds. They thanked us for alerting them to the problem - and joined calls for better warnings to be given by phone companies. One Cabinet Minister whose messages were insecure was David Blunkett, the Education Secretary. He said: "It is a very sensible warning and I will certainly be changing my code immediately. "I am surprised to hear anyone could listen in to my messages but on reflection it seems obvious and I ought to have known. I am kicking myself for not realising".Employment Minister, Tessa Jowell said "I shall change my personal access code straight away and thank you very much indeed for tipping me off"."I think it's worrying and it is very important when people buy mobile phones, given that thousands and thousands and thousands of people every month buy them, that this kind of advice is provided."At present, mobile phone companies include instruction leaflets on how to change access codes from the pre-set 'default' number. The Mail on Sunday has learned, however, that these leaflets are not always sent to customer's automatically. Vodafone admits that customers often have to specifically request the leaflet detailing the procedure.It has had complaints from customers whose private messages have been changed.Industry insiders say only about ten percent of mobile owners bother to change the code once they get their phone, leaving more than 20 million users at risk. Users of Orange and One2One networks are unaffected, because subscribers are not given a universal default code. They have to call a number and key in their own code in order to access the message system. But for users of the two biggest networks,the security implications are startling. Our investigation began after we were contacted by a concerned City businessman who has worker for major merchant banks for more than 25 years. The businessman, who has asked for anonymity, told how he had been shown the procedure by a contact and was horrified. Later, when he realised it was already being used to eavesdrop on multi million pound deals and mergers, the City figure warned a wide circle of friends who, like him, immediately changed their mobile messaging service access codes. Later, he showed us how it was done. And, with prior agreement of his friends, we rang them, used the standard access code and listened in as their messages played. They contained a variety of personal and business messages, which, to an informed eavesdropper, might have been useful in making a profit on investments. Our financial consultant revealed how he had 'Put the Fear of God' into a friend who is chairman of a leading City bank after he allowed him to access his messages. He said: "The look on his face was one of total shock. He realised that he often talks business on his mobile and that somebody could access sensitive information that might affect huge deals". The security of an alarming range of public institutions could be similarly compromised. Royal and Ministerial secrets could be discovered, for example, and the lives of military personnel could be endangered, or even lost, if details of forthcoming operations were divulged. Once the messaging system is accessed, infiltrators can also change the owner's code while they are on the line so that the subscriber would henceforth be unable to hear their own messages. Also, the illicit caller can delete messages once they have been played back. We accessed the message systems of Gerald Kaufman MP, who had nine messages that he had already heard. Although our reporters did not listen to any messages, we could have accessed all of the voice recordings. When told of the loophole, My Kaufman said: "Goodness me. This is a matter of considerable concern and I'll have to think seriously about changing my security number in the light of what you have told me. Thank you very much". BT Cellnet said it included instructions on how to change access codes in it's customer booklets. A spokesman said that instructions on how to use its messaging functions were included in the standard issue booklet How to Get The Most From Your Mobile Phone. "Like many other consumer products there is a default setting to get people started. We recommend in the literature that people change this number to a personalised one as soon as possible." Vodafone issues a separate booklet about its Recall service. Customer service operators for Vodafone connect, which supplies service providers with literature to send to subscribers, admitted that the book on it's Recall messaging service is not always included and needs to be expressly requested. One added: " We have had complaints from people who have had their mailboxes accessed and the messages changed by other people." A spokeswoman for telephone watchdog Oftel said last night: "This may be something which we need to have a look at. 'If companies are not providing sufficient information, then that is something we might want to have informal talks with the mobile phone companies about'. 'But if it's in the brochure and it's a question of not reading it, I can only say that before entering into any contract people should read the small print - that's often where all the useful information is'.Any confused customers should contact their phone company.......but don't leave a message.

Stars who had no idea of the risks

We asked a team of reporters to call the rich and the famous in order to test properly the flaws in the mobile phone system. Out of 32 numbers called, we accessed the mobile message systems of 12 people. In every case, we ended the call before the messages actually played.Those whose message systems were accessed were yachtswoman Tracy Edwards, actor Shaun Scott, from The Bill, PR guru Lord Bell, author Edwina Currie, Education Secretary David Blunkett, Employment Minister Tessa Jowell and MP Gerald Kaufman. Tracy Edwards said "Oh, my God, I never knew" 'I am very surprised at the news. They don't tell you, do they ? But it certainly makes sense to change your code" Shaun Scott who plays DI Chris Deakin in The Bill, said " I had no idea that anyone could listen into my messages by just tapping in a simple code. 'But I suppose, in this high tech electronic age, anything is possible. I will ceratinly be changing the PIN code. Lord Bell, who had no messages, said " Nobody ever leaves sensitive messages on my phone. If they did, I would use a different system. Former Tory Minister and best selling author Edwina Currie had four messages. Though it would be irresponsible to divulge the access codes, entering other peoples' message systems could not be easier. Systems vary slightly. But once you dial into the message service and tap in the code, you can listen in. To alter you code with BT Cellnet, dial, press button 8, insert a new code and repeat it. Vodafone's message security codes can be changed by dialling 121, followed by pressing 1 and 98. Managers at Dixons stores said they sold mobile phones from sealed boxes which had instruction books inside. They also handed out their own leaflets on operating phones. Carphone Warehouse, which issues user's guides with every sale of BT Cellnet and Vodafone mobiles said :"We urge customers to change their PIN numbers. If you don't put a code in, people can get into it. You would think that the first thing a celebrity would do would be to change their code, but many people don't bother".

My thoughts over the years with the breaking news stories.

For years, I thought I had shown the tabloids how to access Voicmail. I never thought that they might have already known. I am convinced however that the way Oonagh Blackman kept me informed and up to date with daily going on at the Daily Mirror newsroom, she couldn't have possibly have known at the time. Maybe after they had investigated a story and put it to the sub editor or Editor, the story was then spiked because they may have already known about Phone hacking. It was has only been until 2011 that I finally realised that they must have already known.

The first Police investigation into Phone Hacking.

I didn't get involved in the first Police investigation that led to the charge and imprisonment of Mulcaire and Goodman. I thought that at the time it was being dealt with and finally it was being 'put to bed'. I was relieved with the publicity in 2005/2006 but still wasn't convinced it was completely uncovered but i wasn't going to go through another breakdown trying to uncover the truth again. I'd effectively 'washed my hands' of it all and destroyed all of the documents I had concerning my campign in 1999.

2010 Phone Hacking back in the news.

News Of The World was dragged into the news along with Andy Coulson with new allegations of Phone hacking and the story really 'kicked off'. I was very interested this time around but still didn't know where it was all going and was 'ooming and aaring' about whether my story would be of any importance. I wasn't sure what to do.

Operation Weeting January 2011

In January 2011, it was announced that a NEW Police investigation into Phone Hacking had been launched called 'Operation Weeting' and my wife and I discussed the implications of my material and previous chronological evidence. At this time, news and media were saying that the Phone hacking had been going on since 2005. We knew this not to be true and that's why it was decided for me to start the campaign again and get in touch with those who should know.
I contacted Operation Weeting and gave them my story. It was not until, April of 2011 that I finally had contact back from the Metropolitan Police and we discussed the information I had in more detail. I was then told an interview would have to be set up to take a witness statement to help with their Inquiries.

My 2011 campaign.

After speaking to the Police, I then decided to run another campaign. I had the use of emails and the internet this time around and wasn't prepared to 'trust' the Police this time around. They failed to do anything about it in 1999 so I wasn't prepared to 'trust' them fully this time around.

I contacted the lawyers of civil cases sueing News group newspapers and Glenn Mulcaire and explained to them about my information. I contacted a massive amount of media outlets in the UK and then started to contact media outlets from around the World. I was contacting everyone. I wasn't go to be kept quiet this time.
Radio 5 Live showed some interest and helped me locate the engineers transcript for the 1999 Vodafone interview. Thanks to Ellie Reuter at Radio 5 Live.
All of the newspapers I had contacted were ignoring me and showed me no interest whatsoever. I couldn't understand why this was and realised that they all may be scared of future implicating into the Phone Hacking Scandal. Luckily, Private Eye Magazine showed some interest and ran a small story 'just fancy that' on 5th August 2011. As soon as this happened, I started to get some media attention. BBC News Matt Prodger got in touch and ran a story on the BBC Webiste 'Whistleblower went unheard'. The Independent and Daily Mail Online also ran a story called 'Phone Hacking Scandal, it's all my fault' on the same day. Roy Greenslade who writes for the Guardian ran a story called 'The man who told the Sun and Mirror about Phone Hacking in 1999'. The links to these articles are below :

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2011/aug/07/phone-hacking-daily-mirror

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/this-scandal-is-all-my-fault-says-salesman-2332669.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14431473

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2023125/Phone-hacking-scandals-fault-Steve-Nott-told-Sun-Mirror-access-voicemails.html

Civil case involvement.

I was invited in March 2011 to provide a witness statement to one of the civil cases sueing Newsgroup newspapers.

My research in 2011.

I spent a lot of time trying to get to the bottom of why the newspapers weren't interested and looked into it in more depth and have come to lots of conclusions about what i think has been going on which i will be publishing here soon. Whilst trying to get the press interested once again, I had contact from people willing to help and Mike Nicholson, a documentary maker, got in touch and offered to do some filming with me. Mike is currently working on the 'Hillsborough' story. The footage below is what Mike recorded at my home to help push my story out further.

Finding more documents.

In August just after the publicity with Private Eye Magazine and various media outlets I found my documents in the attic that I'd though i had destroyed in 2000. This was the letter i sent to new Scotland Yard, The Home Office, the DTI and HM Customs and Excise. I also discovered the original news article from The South Wales Argus, the invoice/receipt from Mirror group News lts for the Daily Mirror story that was spiked and a whole load of contact names and telephone numbers including the handwritten lists of newspapers and companies I had told and asked for help in 1999.

Dragons Eye documentary.

After the Milly Dowler Phone Hacking story had outraged the general public in July 2011, BBC Wales contacted me and asked me if i would be prepared to be interviewed for the Welsh Political show Dragons Eye. Brian Meakin was the interviewer. A lot of filming was done but not an awful lot was broadcast. I think that the lawyers had told them what they could and couldn't use. I had also been contacted by Radio 5 Live again asking for my opinions on the Milly Dowler Phone Hacking 'seeing as I'd possibly started it all'.

Cameron announces The Leveson Inquiry.

Lord Justice Leveson announced on national television that the Inquiry would be welcoming information from anyone, from the general public to newspaper editors to help the public Inquiry whichis now dealing with the culture, practice and ethics of the media. I contacted The Leveson solicitor with my information with my story and was immediately asked for more information.

My contact with various MP's.

I have had quite a lot of contact with MP's this year asking for their help. I even had an appointment with Paul Murphy, MP for Torfaen constituency. I have to be honest, I've now received any support from them. I understand they have got jobs to do but a few of them have got themselves involved in the Phone hacking Scandal and you would think that maybe just one of them would have looked into my story further. No. Is it because my story implicates other newspapers and there's a fear of reprisal stories or dirt digging ? I think that there's a lot of 'dirt' out there in the hands of the press ready to be unleashed on the public if certain MP's cause them any problems.

My video of testimony and witness statement.

My full testimony can be watched online here

http://www.levesoninquiry.org.uk/hearing/2011-12-06am/

and my witness statement can be found here

http://www.levesoninquiry.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Witness-Statement-of-Steven-Nott.pdf

Media coverage after my appearance at The Leveson Inquiry.

I have had quite a lot of media coverage because of my appearance at The Leveson inquiry. Only now they've started to believe my story and that I'm a credible person. Maybe some of them were hoping for me not to get it into the public domain. For that reason only is the main reason why I've campaign for so long. No-one should be allowed to get away with such dirty sleazy practices.

The link below are what BBC Wales ITV1 Wales broadcast on the day I gave testimony at Leveson.

Cwmbran lorry driver testifies at Leveson media enquiry

3.21PM Tue Dec 6 2011

A lorry driver from Cwmbran has been giving evidence today at the Leveson inquiry into media ethics. Steven Nott claims he spotted problems with mobile phone security as far back as 1999. After discovering it was possible to hack into voicemail accounts, Mr Nott says he took his evidence to several newspapers who decided not to run the story. He also says he reported his findings to the police. David Wood reports. By: David Wood

Writing my book 'Cover Up and Whitewash'.

I am now in the process of writing my book about the whole thing. I have tried one publisher to see if there was any interest and told to finish the book first before offering it about. However, they have declined my story. This was before my Leveson appearance. Anyone who wishes to publish my book, please do get in touch.

The thoughts from friends and family.

My family are all so relieved that the story has finally come out. They all knew what I went through at the time and can see it was all worth it in the end and now know I'm vindicated and have closure.

Who is at fault ?

If I was to ask who to ultimately blame for the whole Phone hacking scandal. The answer would always be those mobile networks that allowed it to happen and didn't make enough people aware of the risks. I have been told that the blame will eventually be pointed at the mobile companie's and I agree 100% that they should be held accountable for their inactions.

How I felt on the day of my appearance at The Leveson Inquiry

My wife and I left the house at 05:00am to drive to London for my appearance in front of Lord Justice Leveson to give my testimony under oath.

We arrived in London after battling with the motorcycles and pushbikes zipping between the moving traffic at 0830 hours and parked in the APCO car park next to the Shell building over the Thames and adjacent to The London Eye.

It was a twenty mintue walk to the Royal Courts of Justice and to be honest it was friggin' freezing. I only wore a suit with a shirt underneath to keep me warm. The tie didn't provide any heat or comfort either.

We walked along the Strand up across The Aldwych and found a little cafe across the road from the RCJ where we sat for 10 mintues and had a coffee. It was strong as well and I walked out of there shaking more than when I walked in from the freezing temperature.

SMy wife and and I both crossed the road and headed up Bell Yard to the North entrance of the courts and encountered 2 photographers standing and waiting for anyone to arrive. We stayed on their side to make it look like we weren't going in and then said 'now' together and legged it across the little road into the North Bell yard entrance and down the ramp. We weren't quick enough because the 2 photgrapher's cottoned on as to what we up to. They 'snapped' us a few times. It felt good though. How often in life will you ever experience the thrill of dodging the paps when you're just an average Joe ?

We scooted off down the ramp and into the main courtyard just before the entry into the building only to find a line of photographers facing us up on the top fence. Click, click click, they had us and we wished them all a good morning and smiled with heads proudly held high. The paps had got us good and proper and my wife wasn't too pleased. she wasn't expecting that and said she hadn't sorted her hair out or arranged her bag just in case ! Luckily, I had polished my shoes and put creases in my trousers so it hadn't bothered me.

We entered the building and went through security checks and were sent off to court No 73 where the leveson Inquiry is held. I opened up the door to the court room, popped my head around the corner and was asked to come in by a lovely lady. After being shown around and also explained as to what would happen as I was going on, first we then sat down and waited for others to arrive. We weren't the first to arrive, I think there was a reporter sat to our side reading the financial times and busily tweeting stuff. He didn't seem to pay any attention to us so I felt quite at ease.

Before you knew it, people started to arrive and a few came up to greet me. I was told at first that Jay the QC was questioning me but then they told me it was David instead. Phew....That jay fella looks like he has a nasty streak and I didn't fancy a grilling after travelling all that way voluntarily! He's a really nice man really, but you know what it's like, you see someone and you can automatically asume what they are like but be totally wrong. The Leveson staff were absolutely superb. they were so helpful and really really caring. Believe me, I needed some nice people to talk to, it was starting to become a little nerve racking. They explained to me who was who and what was what. I was told that who the Guardian staff were, who the lawyers for the core participants were, I was shown where News International representatives were sat, where the Metroplitan Police were and where the staff were from Trinity Mirror. I was told more about everyone but I couldn't take it all in. It was like being in a real live reality show. All the people I'd seen on the Leveson website hearing live streaming, were all now in the same room as me....and I was just about to go and sit in the same chair where Hugh Grant was nearly "balled a googlie" by the QC the other day for throwing in a question that he wasn't expecting.

Next thing you know it, 'ALL RISE" and we stood up for Lord Justice Leveson to enter the hearing room. David the QC looked at me and beckoned me to come over and take the stand...or chair....you know what I mean.

Ok, nerves were shot by now. My stomach was rumbling, my mouth went dry, my eye's even started to wobble. I'd had stage fright years ago when I appeared on a TV show called Keynotes. Stage fright is a strange thing...everything can freeze...the lips, the chin, the mouth, the face.....

I'd asked the council not to ask me about myself prior to being questioned as I would have to read off the notes I had written, and didn't want to narrate anything at that time, so they went straight into it, my name and my job.....

It was definitely an experience. Every now and then I thought "OMG - everyone could be watching this, quick, let's drink some more water."

I have to be honest, no matter how nervous I was, I was so pleased that someone had finally taken notice of my plight if you can call it that. I finally felt some vindication. To hear the name of Oonagh Blackman being mentioned gave me a feeling of great trust towards the Inquiry because I thought they may have redacted her name from everything. But no, they told it how it was and indeed indebted to them for their help.

Then, before you know it, David the QC asked me if I had any thoughts about the future of press regulation.

I thought 'yes' I've prepapred for this and written something down. I thought this is my time to give a little something.

OMG, what a cock up. I missed bits out because I could sense that no-one knew where I was going with my story about my grandmother swatting the cat with her news paper and my mother and father arguing over the crossword in the Mail On Sunday. I lost it around then and was trying to recover from having 'a total blank' - I realised I was on Live global streaming video across the world and nearly lost it all together. No-one knew where I was going, but I finally managed to get my point across that, as a family, we all buy newspapers, but not to read the stories. To use them for crosswords, horseracing, bingo and holiday vouchers etc. What I didn't mention was my belief that many households buy newspapers for their gimmicks and promotions, and maybe some papers are delusional about people actually buying them really for their stories and news content.

Anyway, I didn't mention that and was glad to stop and say thankyou.

Lord Justice Leveson said he was grateful for my testimony and said 'It had all come home now' which I also felt the same way.

I was asked to leave the stand and then sit back down. I was shaking like a leaf and needed some fresh air but wasn't allowed out whilst the hearing was in session so I sat there and calmed down quietly.

To our left, was David Leigh from the Guardian, his stomach was rumbling throughout. Charlotte Harris was sat to my right. I listened to Charlotte's testimony and noticed Lord leveson wasn't particularly pleased when she interrupted him when he was on about the elasticity of laws and the disgression of the judges final decision on some cases. I'm sure he rolled his eyes a little when she 'cut him short' whilst explaining himself.

Anyway, I was calming down by the time a recess had been called but was still glad to leave. We were advised to leave via a side entrance to avoid doorstepping reporters and photographers by John Toker, the Press Officer at The Leveson Inquiry.

We escaped unharmed and headed back through the Strand, across the Thames and then had a browse through the Christmas market down by the London Eye.

I'm so glad it's all now over.

I'm sorry to hear that Alastair Morgan and his mother have had the judicial Inquiry turned down by Theresa May today but there may be room for manouevre in the future. I wish him and his family the best of luck with getting the justice he needs for the murder of Daniel Morgan in 1987 and 5 failed Police Inquiries.

There was some media coverage on TV when we got home. Both ITV1 Wales and BBC1 wales covered my story in some detail. Thankyou

Thanks for reading.

I can be found on Twitter @StevenNott

For those interested in seeing my recorded testimony at The Leveson Inquiry on 6th dec 2011 visit the link below to wacth it all.

http://www.levesoninquiry.org.uk/hearing/2011-12-06am/

And anyone wishing to read my full testimony and my witness statement please visit the link below.
http://www.levesoninquiry.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Witness-Statement-of-Steven-Nott.pdf

Here's some extra stuff :

Above : article from Mail On Sunday May 7th 2000 - Mobile Phone Snooper Scam

Above : 'Fear of God' article from Mail On Sunday again May 2000

Above : a threat received on Twitter. Prankster or not, I won't be intimidated.

Above : Letter from Rt Hon Lord Prescott after I had contacted many MP's. I had this reply from Prescott. This was after I had already contacted Operation Weeting. I wrote to him to inform him of my story as he was claiming to also be a Phone Hacking victim.

Above : This article from The Independent came out after Private Eye had run a story on me which ian Hislop was apparently keen to get into print. Thankyou to all those at Private Eye for kickstarting my campaign properly. Not so much thanks to the Independent for telling everyone it was all my fault and also the Daily Mail did the same thing and blamed it on me. Cheers.

Above : 'Leaflets not always sent' to customer's of Vodafone mobile phones. This was another snippet from the Mail On Sunday article Mobile Phone Snooper Scam dated May 7th 2000 which can be found if you scroll up.

Above : more from the Mail On Sunday article. Notice David Blunkett and Tessa Jowell both warned of their insecure voicemail yet still were victims of phone hacking in later years and only recently this week we've found out that both have them have been in receipt of settlement payments totalling half a million pound between them.

Tessa Jowell payout mentioned here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16134603
David Blunkett mentioned here http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/dec/10/david-blunkett-ni-phone-hacking-claims

They were both warned of the consequences of leaving their voicemail insecure but still managed to get payouts. Am I missing something ?

LORD JUSTICE LEVESON: "Thank you, Mr Nott. It's quite clear this was a problem you identified in the late 1990s and it's now come home for us all to think about."

Anyone wishing to get in touch with me will need to through Twitter @StevenNott

Thankyou.

Steven