British prosecutors have charged the UK prime minister's former communications director Andy Coulson and former News International boss Rebekah Brooks with phone hacking.
In total, the Crown Prosecution Service said it was charging eight people with offences relating to the phone hacking scandal at the now-closed News Corp publication, News of the World.
Brooks and Coulson have not yet been sentenced, but reports have suggested they could face penalties are severe as two years in prison.
Coulson, who was formerly spokesperson for UK prime minister David Cameron, faces five charges of conspiracy, while Brooks faces three.
The charges relate to allegations of illegally intercepting phone messages of around 600 people, including well known celebrities.
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch shut down the publication amid the scandal.
Both Brooks and Coulson are former editors of News of the World.
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