Journalists lost me my job, says former Elle Macpherson adviser

A FORMER adviser to supermodel Elle Macpherson, right, told the inquiry she lost her job after being suspected of leaking stories.

Mary-Ellen Field said she was accused of speaking to the media as she was an “alcoholic” and was persuaded to spend time in a clinic.

Lord Justice Leveson was told Ms Field had made allegations of phone hacking, spoken to police and was seeking damages in the High Court.

Ms Field said in 2005 Macpherson separated from her boyfriend and “tittle-tattle” appeared in the press. She said the model became concerned about “listening devices” and security checks were carried out but nothing was found.

Ms Field said she was contacted by a lawyer for Macpherson and told the model was “not prepared to have me speaking in the press any more”. Ms Field told the inquiry that she had “absolutely not” been speaking to the media.

Ms Field said after she left the clinic Macpherson told her she was “fired”.

A lawyer for Ms Field earlier told the inquiry it emerged stories had been obtained via interception of Ms Field’s and Macpherson’s voicemails.