REBEKAH Brooks' husband Charlie Brooks and the former managing editor of the News Of The World "brought suspicion on themselves", a judge has said, as he refused their costs applications for the 139-day phone-hacking trial.
Mr Brooks, 51, and retired managing editor Stuart Kuttner, 74, were both found not guilty of being part of the hacking conspiracy and applied to have their costs - around £600,000 and £135,000 respectively - repaid at a hearing earlier this month.
After considering the matter, Mr Justice Saunders ruled that they will not get the money back.
The judge said in a statement: "I have refused both applications for costs as I am satisfied that the defendants' conduct brought suspicion on themselves and misled the prosecution into thinking that the case against them was stronger than it was.
"They have been acquitted by the jury and are innocent of the charges that they faced and I have considered their applications on that basis."
Police had discovered that Mr Brooks had been involved in an operation to hide computers and other documents from detectives searching their flat after his wife was arrested.
CCTV footage captured the material being hidden behind bins at the underground car park of their flat in central London where it was found by a cleaner.
Mr Brooks told his trial he had wanted to hide a computer which had part of a book he was writing on it along with his stash of pornography, because he feared its discovery would be leaked to the media.
Responding to the ruling, racehorse trainer Mr Brooks said: "At least on a racecourse, when you back a winner the bookmakers pay you."
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