Leveson inquiry: 'Fake Sheikh' admits altering story

News International last year re-employed the former News of the World star undercover reporter known as the "Fake Sheikh" despite knowing that he deliberately altered the digital record of a story when he was at The Sunday Times to hide a crucial mistake, lied about his cover-up and then resigned before he could be fired.

Reappearing before the Leveson Inquiry yesterday, Mazher Mahmood was asked why he had neglected to reveal the details of the incident in 1988 when he gave evidence last year. He said the mistake had been made when he was a "naive" 24-year-old.

Mr Mahmood was again allowed to conceal his identity. But what could not be disguised was Lord Justice Leveson's anger. "My concern is what you said to me, which wasn't 23 years ago, or indeed much more than 23 days ago," he snapped.