coulson
Andy Coulson will stand trial to face two outstanding charges from the phone hacking case Getty

Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson will face a retrial over allegations he conspired to commit misconduct in a public office by paying a police officer for royal directories.

David Cameron's former communications director was found guilty of conspiring to hack phones following the eight month trial at the Old Bailey, but the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the remaining two charges.

Coulson, 46, will now face a second hearing for the outstanding charges along with Clive Goodman, 56, the former royal editor of the now-defunct newspaper. Both defendants deny the allegations against them.

The decision was announced at the start of the sentencing hearing for Coulson.

Prosecutor Andrew Edis QC said: "The CPS has taken the position to proceed with the retrial."

The rest of the defendants at the phone hacking trial, including former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks, were cleared of all charges.

Coulson faces a maximum jail term of two years after been found guilty of conspiring to hack phones between 2000 and 2006.