The former News of the World editor has today been released from prison after serving less than half of his sentence.

Andy Coulson, 46, exited Hollesley Bay open prison this morning after 20 weeks, expected to wear a tag for a further 130 days as a condition of his release.

A spokesperson announced that ‘only prisoners who pass a strict risk assessment can be released on home detention curfew’ but offenders can be recalled back to prison if they breach the licence conditions they are under.

Coulson was sentenced to 18 months in July after his eight-month trial for phone hacking. Although he denied all charges, he was found guilty of plotting to intercept calls. The trial Judge further concluded that as editor he knew about the hacking and should have stopped it.

The News of the World was closed in July 2011 after the hacking of Milly Dowler’s voicemails came to light.

Picture: Neville Hobson