POLICE failed to probe a claim by a senior News of the World executive that the tabloid had listened to murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's voicemail while she was still believed missing, a jury has heard.

Former managing editor Stuart Kuttner contacted Surrey Police on the afternoon of April 13, 2002, to tell them of a message left by a recruitment agency in Telford on the 13-year-old's phone, the Old Bailey was told.

It is claimed he told an officer the paper had gained access to her number, obtained from friends.

Later that day, chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck confirmed the newspaper "had access" to Milly's voicemail after he was asked how the paper obtained the new lead, the jury heard.

Giving evidence, Surrey Police head of communications Sarah McGregor said there had been no mention of the paper hacking phones at a meeting the next week for those working on the case.

Jonathan Caplan, QC, defending Mr Kuttner, asked her: "When you were told on April 13 Milly's voicemail had been accessed by News of the World, that did not cause you to refer it to anybody, that maybe this should be investigated?"

Ms McGregor replied: "I'm not a detective and I was not working as an investigating officer. It would be their decision."

Milly went missing on her way home from school in Walton-on-Thames on March 21, 2002, and was found murdered in September that year. Ex-editor Rebekah Brooks was in Dubai on April 13 but there was alleged contact between her and colleagues, including her then deputy Andy Coulson.

The court heard the ­newspaper's first edition the next day quoted the message left by Mondays recruitment service.

It was thought Milly might have registered with the agency and the message might help locate her.

But police told the paper the message was thought to have been left by a "hoaxer", and later editions took the quote out.

The court heard police had previously discovered bogus messages after obtaining an order allowing access to Milly's voicemail. The hoaxer had contacted Milly's mother to wish her a happy birthday and been captured on CCTV in Telford, Ms McGregor said.

But after officers spoke to Mondays they found Milly was not on the company's books and concluded the message had been intended for another woman.

When this was put to News of the World reporter Ricky Sutton, he allegedly replied: "This is not true, it's inconceivable. There's other messages on her phone."

Mr Sutton also claimed Milly had travelled north and registered with Mondays for a job in a factory.

Ms McGregor told the court Mr Kuttner had said to a colleague the paper had Milly's pin, which he denies. Mr Caplan suggested Ms McGregor had mixed up two phone calls - one from his client to her colleague where there was no mention of a pin, and one where Mr Thurlbeck told her the paper was in possession of the pin.

Ms McGregor said her notes were accurate.

Mr Kuttner, 73, from Essex; Ms Brooks, 45, of Oxfordshire; and Mr Coulson, 45, from Kent, all deny conspiring with others to hack phones between October 3, 2000 and August 9, 2006.

Mr Thurlbeck has already admitted phone hacking.

Ms Brooks is accused of a further two counts of conspiring with others to commit misconduct in public office - one between January 1, 2004 and January 31, 2012 and the other between February 9, 2006 and October 16, 2008 - linked to alleged inappropriate payments to public officials.

She also faces two allegations of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice - one with her former personal assistant, Cheryl Carter, between July 6 and 9, 2011; and a second with her husband, Charles Brooks, former News International head of security Mark Hanna and others between July 15 and July 19, 2011.

Mr Coulson is facing two ­allegations he conspired with former News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman, 56, from Addlestone in Surrey, and other unknown people to commit misconduct in public office - between August 31, 2002 and January 31, 2003, and between January 31 and June 3, 2005.

The trial continues.