Sun investigator admits illegally obtaining Meghan information

In case you needed any more reason for why she didn't enjoy her time in the UK

The Duchess of Sussex had her private information accessed early on in her relationship with Harry. Dan Hanks, a private investigator who was employed by the Sun, claims that he put together a 90-page report on Meghan shortly after she started going out with the prince. Speaking to the website Byline Investigates, Hanks claims that he accessed information such as relatives' phone numbers, background information on her ex-husband and even the actor's personal social security number. He then sent all of this to the newspaper's US editor, and whilst most of this information could have been obtained legally, the investigator says that he gathered it from a database that could not legally be used for journalistic purposes. The website, which tracked down the investigator, works to expose examples of wrongdoing in the media. It is run by freelance journalist Graham Johnson, who himself has previously been convicted for phone hacking. Whilst the Sun did make Hanks sign a letter stating that he would not use any illegal methods to gain information, the investigator has told the New York Times that "the reporters came back to me and said, 'But if you want to get work, keep doing what you've been doing,' with a nod and a wink." The Sun has denied these accusations and its publishers have said they stopped using Hanks' services after he was sent to jail in 2017 after being found guilty of extortion in an unrelated case. A spokesperson for the publisher said: "Mr Hanks was not tasked to do anything illegal or breach any privacy laws – indeed he was instructed clearly in writing to act lawfully and he signed a legal undertaking that he would do so. The information he provided could not and did not raise any concerns that he had used illegal practices to obtain the information. "At no time did the Sun request the social security number of Meghan Markle, nor use the information he provided for any unlawful practice. The Sun abides by all laws and regulations and maintains strict protocols in relation to the obtaining of information from third parties. Strict compliance is in place to cover all our reporting." This is the latest episode in a long-running battle that the Duke and Duchess have had with the tabloids. Markle was recently successful in suing the Mail on Sunday for breach of privacy after the paper published a private letter she had sent to her father, and Prince Harry is in the process of legal proceedings against the owners of both the Sun and the Daily Mirror over alleged phone hacking. A spokesperson for the couple said that they feel today "is an important moment of reflection for the media industry and society at large," and that they are "grateful to those working in media who stand for upholding the values of journalism, which are needed now more than ever."