Jan. 26 (Bloomberg) -- The former royal editor at the U.K. tabloid the News of the World was sentenced to four months in prison for plotting to tap into the telephone messages of aides to Britain's royal family, including Prince Charles and his sons.

Clive Goodman, 49, was sentenced at London's Central Criminal Court by Justice Peter Gross for conspiring to intercept communications. He faced a sentence of as long as two years in prison after pleading guilty in November. The scandal triggered the resignation of top editor Andy Coulson, News of the World's owner, News Corp., said today in a statement.

Police began investigating the case when staff at Prince Charles's official residence raised concerns about security breaches, after the News of the World published a story containing private information about Prince William.

``This was low conduct, reprehensible in the extreme,'' Gross said at the hearing. ``The threat such conduct poses is a threat to all people involved in public life.''

Glenn Mulcaire, the 36-year-old head of a crisis consulting firm, was sentenced to six months on related charges of hacking into the messages of celebrities including supermodel Elle Macpherson.

Both men pleaded guilty at a hearing Nov. 29.

Goodman's lawyer, John Kelsey-Fry QC, said his client was apologetic about his actions. He ``recognizes the seriousness of his actions,'' Kelsey-Fry said today.

Coulson Resignation

``Mr. Goodman would never do anything to harm or risk harm to any member of the royal family,'' Kelsey-Fry said.

The News of the World is published by a unit of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Goodman had worked at the newspaper for more than a decade.

News of the World Editor Coulson formally resigned two weeks ago and delayed his departure until the completion of the court proceedings, New York-based News Corp. said.

``I have decided that the time has come for me to take ultimate responsibility for the events around the Clive Goodman case,'' Coulson said in the statement. ``His actions were entirely wrong and I deeply regret that they happened on my watch.''

Colin Myler, who has been executive editor at Murdoch's New York Post in New York since 2001, was appointed editor of News of the World, News Corp. said. Myler is a former editor of the Daily Mirror.

Royal staff members first became suspicious after the News of the World, England's best-selling Sunday tabloid, published an article about Prince William's knee injury in 2005, according to U.K. police. The newspaper subsequently printed a short item containing private details about a planned meeting between the prince and ITV news correspondent Tom Bradby.

Security and anti-terrorism officers widened their probe after learning that the mobile phones of other public figures and celebrities may also have been targeted.

To contact the reporter on this story: James Lumley in London at jlumley1@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: January 26, 2007 16:49 EST