London ( CNN ) -- The editors of Rupert Murdoch 's News of the World tabloid knew that their reporters were hacking phones in search of stories , former News of the World journalist Paul McMullan testified Tuesday . He named Andy Coulson , who went on to become an adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron , and Rebekah Brooks , a Murdoch protege , as editors who were aware of the practice . Coulson resigned as editor of the tabloid in 2007 when one of his reporters went to prison for hacking the voice mails of Prince William 's staff , and he later became Cameron 's communications director . Coulson has always denied knowing about phone hacking , saying he quit the paper because he was ultimately responsible for the actions of his staff . McMullan was testifying before the Leveson Inquiry , a probe Cameron established in the face of public anger at the news that the News of the World hacked the phone of 13-year-old murder victim Milly Dowler . The Leveson Inquiry has been hearing from high-profile figures for more than a week . McMullan said phone hacking was widespread at the tabloid and described being caught out himself while trying to hack David Beckham 's phone . The soccer star shocked him by answering the phone before McMullan could dial the code to access his voice mail , forcing the journalist to hang up quickly , he said . He argued that the public was complicit in the country 's tabloid culture , saying newspapers publish stories about stars because `` there is a taste for it , there is a market for it . '' Celebrities also use the tabloid press to increase their exposure , he said , describing how model Katie Price , better known as Jordan , gave him the finger through a window . He snapped a picture of her , thinking , `` Thanks , love , '' and sold it for 2,000 pounds ( $ 3,100 ) . `` She knew exactly what she was doing , '' he said . He also defended the tabloids ' methods as part of a free society , saying he would not want to live in a country where only the secret services were able to hack phones . His defense of the tabloids came a day after singer Charlotte Church blasted the News of the World tabloid for its decision to publish a lurid story about her father having an affair while her mother was getting treatment for mental illness . `` They knew how vulnerable she was and still printed a story like that , which is just horrific , '' she said . The former child star also spoke of her anger at finding out her phone may have been hacked by a private investigator working for the Rupert Murdoch tabloid . The investigator , Glenn Mulcaire , had details of her phone and those of her parents , friends and former boyfriends , Church said police had told her . Mulcaire went to prison for hacking royal staff voice mails along with News of the World royal correspondent Clive Goodman . Celebrities who have already testified before the inquiry include `` Harry Potter '' author J.K. Rowling and `` G.I . Joe '' actress Sienna Miller , who both complained of being hounded by paparazzi . Actor Hugh Grant also appeared before the panel , and he implied that police leaked information to the tabloid press . He also accused the Mail on Sunday of hacking . Police investigating phone hacking by journalists say that about 5,800 people , including celebrities , crime victims , politicians and members of the royal family , were targets of the practice by journalists in search of stories . It involves illegally eavesdropping on voice mail by entering a PIN to access messages remotely .
NEW : Paul McMullan says the public and media are complicit in tabloid culture . The ex - journalist names a former David Cameron aide as knowing about hacking . He is questioned at the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics . Police say about 5,800 people were killed by phone - hacking journalists .