A private investigator at the centre of Prince Harry's legal action against the publisher of the Daily Mail has told the High Court that his signature on a key witness statement was a forgery. Gavin Burrows, who was linked to allegations of unlawful information gathering, has retracted his earlier confession, calling it 'completely false'.
Burrows had allegedly claimed in a 2021 statement that he and his team obtained information by hacking voicemails, tapping landlines and bugging cars, and that he worked on behalf of the Mail on Sunday. Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) denies the allegations and is defending the case brought by seven prominent individuals, including Elton John and Doreen Lawrence.
In a fresh 30-page witness statement dated 25 September 2025, Burrows said he did not recognise the earlier statement and believed his signature was forged. He stated he had never carried out any illegal activity for ANL, apart from one job for Sir Richard Branson that did not involve illegal acts.
Burrows said he was on heavy painkillers and drinking heavily when approached by former journalist Graham Johnson, who wanted help with research on phone-hacking claims. He was told the claims were a 'perfect scam' and a 'gravy train', as newspapers would likely settle out of court.
The court heard legal arguments about whether Burrows will be called as a witness. ANL's barrister, Antony White KC, asked to cross-examine him, while David Sherborne, for the claimants, sought to treat his evidence as hearsay. Mr Justice Nicklin gave Sherborne seven days to decide on a witness summons.
