FORMER Saints chairman Rupert Lowe has received a "substantial sum" and an apology after his phone was hacked by journalists from The Sun and the News of the World.

Mr Lowe, who was at Southampton Football Club between 1996 and 2006, was one of 16 personalities who made claims against News Group Newspapers, which publishes the two newspapers, after their private information was misused.

In a statement, he told London's High Court that 27 articles were published by NGN's newspapers which were the product of voicemail interception of other unlawful information gathering.

He claimed that as a result of these publications, he started to distrust colleagues or associates.

But following the hearing, NGN said through its lawyers it "apologised...for the distress that it caused [Mr Lowe] by the invasion of his privacy by individuals working for or on behalf of the News of the World".

It added that "activities such as phone hacking should never have taken place".

At the time of the allegations, which were from 1999 until 2006, Mr Lowe was at Saints and serving on the boards of the FA and Wembley National Stadium.

He was contacted by the Metropolitan Police Force in 2015 and informed that he may have been the victim of voicemail interception.

Earlier this year, Mr Lowe was also awarded damages from the Mirror Group Newspapers, for similar offences.

His statement, read to the court on Mr Lowe's behalf by lawyer Lauren Twidale, from Hamlins Solicitors, said: "Mr Lowe alleged in the proceedings that he had been unlawfully targeted by the defendant's journalists at the News of the World and The Sun for many years, not just because of their interest in Southampton but also because of Mr Lowe’s extensive contacts with players, managers and key figures in the game."

She added: "Mr Lowe claimed that as a result of these publications he had started to distrust colleagues or associates.

"I am pleased to report that the parties have been able to agree terms of settlement.

"These include the payment of a substantial sum by way of damages and payment of Mr Lowe’s costs."

Others won damages at the hearing against NGN included boxing legend Frank Bruno, actress Kym Marsh and TV's Les Dennis.

During Mr Lowe's tenure with the club, Saints reached the FA Cup Final and qualified for the UEFA Cup for the first time in nearly 20 years in 2003.

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