Fake Sheikh Mazher Mahmood has declined to give evidence in his trial for allegedly tampering with evidence in the case of pop star Tulisa Contostavlos.

Mahmood, 53, and his driver, Alan Smith, 67, are accused over their role in the collapse of the former X Factor judge's drugs case in July 2014.

The Old Bailey has heard that the Sun undercover journalist had a boozy meeting with the singer at the Metropolitan Hotel in London, posing as a film producer keen to discuss a role alongside Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio.

Miss Contostavlos had allegedly arranged for Mahmood to be sold half an ounce of cocaine by one of her contacts for £800 in May 2013.

But the N-Dubz star's trial was thrown out of court after Smith changed his police statement to remove comments she allegedly made expressing disapproval of hard drugs.

She had allegedly said she had a family member with a drug problem as Smith drove her home to Potters Bar in Hertfordshire after the meeting with Mahmood.

Mahmood, of Purley, south London, and Smith, from Dereham, Norfolk, deny conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

Mahmood's lawyer, John Kelsey-Fry QC, told jurors that his client would not be going into the witness box.

Trevor Burke QC followed suit and said he would be calling no evidence for Smith.

Prosector Sarah Forshaw QC in her closing speech said: 'If they were innocent men with nothing to hide, wouldn't they be shouting it from the rooftops?'

The trial continues.