Ex-News of the World editor and Downing Street communications boss will have to wear electronic tag as condition of early release

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Andy Coulson, the former News of the World editor and Downing Street communications boss, has been released from prison.

He served less than five months of an 18-month term imposed in July after he was convicted of conspiring to intercept voicemails at the now-defunct Sunday tabloid following an eight-month trial at the Old Bailey.

Coulson, 46, said nothing to reporters as he left Hollesley Bay, an open prison in Suffolk, at 8am . It is understood he will have to wear an electronic tag until he has served half of his full sentence as a condition of his early release.

The Ministry of Justice declined to comment on Coulson’s case but said prisoners could be released under home detention curfew (HDC) arrangements.

A spokesman said: “Public protection is our first priority. Only prisoners who pass a strict risk assessment can be released on HDC. Offenders on HDC are subject to strict licence conditions and can be recalled to prison if they breach them.”

Prisoners can be considered for HDC if they are serving a sentence of more than three months and less than four years, and have served a quarter of their sentence.

Coulson was previously held at HMP Belmarsh in south-east London but it was reported in September that he had been moved to Hollesley Bay to serve the rest of his term.

In August, Scottish prosecutors formally charged Coulson with three counts of perjury over the Tommy Sheridan trial; he is accused of lying while giving evidence in December 2010.

In June, David Cameron apologised for hiring Coulson just weeks after he left the News of the World, adding that he had been assured that Coulson had not hacked phones.