Former News of the World reporter defends Beckham story

A former News of the World chief reporter, Neville Thurlbeck, has been defending the publication of a story which claimed David Beckham had had an affair.

He told the Leveson Inquiry into press standards that the footballer had promoted his fairytale marriage and so the story was justified.

Mr Thurlbeck was sacked by the News of the World in September after being arrested in connection with allegations of phone hacking.