Wayne Rooney Warned Massage Parlour Visits would Wreck Career

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney was warned by a receptionist that his career would be "destroyed" unless he left a massage parlour, a court as heard.

Grandmother Patricia Tierney, who found herself at the centre of a sex scandal with Rooney in 2004, denied ever sleeping with the footballer but warned him that his career would be over if he did not stop visiting the Diva's massage parlour in Liverpool.

The jury at the Old Bailey for the phone-hacking trial also heard how Glenn Mulcaire, the private investigator hired by the News of the World to hack mobile phones, had targeted Rooney and used the password "Stella Artois" to protect his phone.

The court heard how the now-defunct NotW had written stories Rooney's "suggested use of prostitutes" and how he had had sex with Tierney.

In a court statement, Tieney said: "It was alleged I had a sexual encounter with Wayne Rooney and he paid me for sex when I was working at a massage parlour.

"I do recall Wayne Rooney visiting with a number of other males.

"Several days later he came on his own. This time I pushed him into a room and told him to pull his hat down and get out before he was destroyed and his career was over."

The court also heard how a notepad belonging to Mulcaire - who has already pleaded guilty to phone hacking - also contained information about Rooney's mother and a Laura Rooney, a beauty consultant at Harrods, who is not related to the footballer.

The court was told that a separate handwritten list by Mulcaire contained a list of names including Kate Middleton, Boris Johnson and Sven Goran Erikson under the title "Target Evaluation" was found at his home.

Former NotW editor Rebekah Brooks and ex-Tory spin doctor Coulson, along with six others, are accused of conspiring to hack phones and of making corrupt payments to officials.

Brooks also faces two counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice by destroying notes and computers which could have been used as evidence against her.

The trial continues.