Prime Minister David Cameron's former PR guru Andy Coulson has been given a 1.5 year prison sentence after he was found guilty of conspiring to hack phones.

The former News of the World journalist had been one of several under investigation over phone tapping of high profile celebrities and individuals. The case has cost NOTW hundreds of millions of pounds, and was subsequently rebranded News UK after the scandal.

Andy Coulson was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Thursday evening. The hacking scandal led to the forming of the Royal Charter, a form of press regulation that was bitterly opposed by most of the UK's major papers.

The sentencing holds Coulson accountable for the illegal hacking of phones while he was editor at News of The World. Rebekah Brooks who was also on trial was earlier acquitted of all charges.

Following the Leveson Inquiry, the phone hacking trial also found former reporters Neville Thurbeck, James Weatherup and Greg Miskiw guilty, receiving various sentencing.

As the hacking scandal investigations continue, Rupert Murdoch was recently asked to appear before the British Parliamentary Committee to answer questions regarding alleged comments he made to staff over the company's phone hacking.