Former Sunday Mirror journalist pleads guilty to phone hacking in British court

A former journalist with British tabloid the Sunday Mirror has pleaded guilty to hacking into voicemails in pursuit of an exclusive story.

Graham Johnson admitted guilt Thursday and will be sentenced Nov. 27. The 46-year-old had turned himself in to police after learning of the arrest of colleagues on similar charges.

Johnson said he was taught how to hack into voicemails by a supervisor and had used the technique in 2001 while investigating a possible affair between a soap opera actress and a gangster. He told the court he didn't know the hacking was illegal when he did it.

District Judge Quentin Purdy praised Johnson for confessing his crime.

Britain's long-running phone hacking scandal has led to the closure of the News of the World tabloid and numerous arrests.