Rebekah Brooks turned to ex-husband Ross Kemp at the height of the News of the World hacking crisis, the Old Bailey heard yesterday.

Police retrieved emails from the BlackBerry of the former News International chief executive after her arrest in July 2011, the hacking trial was told.

Prosecutor Andrew Edis QC read out emails between Ms Brooks, 45, and Mr Kemp.

On June 23 2011, Brooks wrote to Mr Kemp: "Hello. How are you? Need to talk to you about phone hacking at some point. When are you around?"

That night, she emailed her personal assistants: "Need my 2002, 2003 diaries."

The next day, Mr Kemp emailed her back, saying: "Over a month is too long. A stone lighter though. Shall we have coffee? Am I in trouble? I'm always in trouble."

Then on July 5, one of Ms Brooks's personal assistants Deborah Keegan emailed Brooks: "Ross called. Sends his best wishes. Says really good to see you and Charlie (Brooks's husband) at the weekend. Call if you want."

Three days later, boxes allegedly containing Brooks's notebooks were taken out of the News International archive.

Later, the jury read the love letter from Brooks to former News of the World editor Andy Coulson, 46, which the trial heard about last year. There was silence in the courtroom and neither party reacted in the dock.

All seven defendants deny the charges against them. The trial will continue on Monday February 17.