News reporter hacked 100 celebrity phones daily for 18 straight months

Actress Sadie Frost, TV producer Robert Ashworth, and 'Dinnerladies' star Shobna Gulati are among 8 individuals who had their phones allegedly hacked on an "industrial scale."

A hearing at London's High Court is examining cases brought forward by 8 individuals who claim to have had their voicemails intercepted with the most intimate details of their private affairs published in 3 national newspapers.

The Guardian reports that journalists at MGN made almost 10,000 calls to access personal correspondences of celebrities through the Orange voicemail platform using deceptive means for 4 years.

Some of the most aggressive reporting was done around actress sadie Frost, who had her phone allegedly tapped daily as she was a "fruitful source of stories." According to the BBC, 7 individuals confirmed 109 separate published news stories deriving from phone hacking activities.

Mirror Group confirmed that news stories were printed in 3 papers as a result of phone hacking activities starting in 2000 and recently issued a public apology.

Phone hacking had been so widespread that journalists at Trinity Mirror's 3 papers were said to have discussed creating an "Enigma-style code-breaking machine."

Evidence including internal emails, call data and receipts are now being examined as part of the civil case which could lead to millions in damages being paid out to individuals who had their private information hacked. WSJ reports that the Trinity Mirror PLC (Parent of MGN) has set aside a fund of £12m for claims.