Mazher Mahmood: a timeline of the 'Fake Sheikh''s rise and fall

Mazher Mahmood was known as the ‘king of the sting’. Photograph: Metropolitan police/PA

1963: Born in Birmingham to journalist parents.

1970s: Begins his career helping his parents produce Urdu-language paper.

1979: Exposes family member for selling pirate videos, leading to various jobs on Sunday People, the Sunday Times, ITV, the BBC and TV-am.

Mazher Mahmood in Panorama’s investigation The Fake Sheikh Exposed. Photograph: BBC

1988: Resigns from the Sunday Times to avoid an internal disciplinary matter, according to his Leveson statement.

1991: Joins News of the World (NoW).

1999: Won British Press Awards reporter of the year for NoW exposé of two Newcastle United directors.

The News of the World front page reporting on the alleged plot to kidnap Victoria Beckham. Photograph: BBC

2003: Reported a fake plot to kidnap Victoria Beckham. The source later said he had “tricked” Mahmood.

2006: Rumbled by George Galloway, whom he tried to trap in a NoW sting.

2006: Trial over supposed terrorists involved in non-existent “red mercury” plot exposed by Mahmood collapses.

2011: Scoop of the year for Sun on Sunday investigation into spot-fixing by Pakistani cricketers.

July 2011: Loses job on NoW after it closes.

The Mazher Mahmood spread in the last ever copy of the News of the World on 10 July 2011. Photograph: Handout/NLA Clipshare

August 2011: Joins Sunday Times.

2012: Tells Leveson inquiry 261 people were jailed because of his stories. Later News UK said it had proof of only 94 prosecutions.

2012: Joins the Sun on Sunday.

June 2013: Publishes drugs story about Tulisa Contostavlos. She is arrested.

July 2014: Trial collapses after it emerges Mahmood had tampered with evidence.

October 2016: Mahmood found guilty of perverting the course of justice.

Mazher Mahmood arriving at the Old Bailey during his trial for perverting the course of justice. Photograph: Hannah Mckay/EPA