Rebekah Brooks denies 'cooking the books' to hide phone-hacking scandal

Former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks has rejected claims that the 'books were cooked' to prevent phone hacking being uncovered.

The prosecution made the accusation in relation to payments made by the paper to private detective Glenn Mulcaire, who was jailed in 2007 after admitting intercepting voicemails.

According to the BBC, under cross-examination by prosecution barrister Andrew Edis QC, Brooks denied knowing about the 92,000 pounds deal with Mulcaire.

It was made in weekly payments and signed off by then managing editor Stuart Kuttner, the court heard.

According to the report, Brooks said the contract had not been brought to her attention because it was 'paid in relatively small weekly payments'.

She added that the news desk also made the payment within their weekly spending limit.

Mulcaire was convicted of hacking phones in 2006, after Brooks had left the News of the World, the jury heard.