Former News of the World editor and Downing Street spin doctor Andy Coulson has been released from prison.

He left Hollesley Bay, an open prison in Suffolk, on Friday morning.

Coulson, 46, has served less than five months of an 18-month term imposed in July after he was found guilty of conspiring to intercept voicemails at the now-defunct Sunday tabloid owned by Rupert Murdoch.

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He was convicted following an eight-month trial at the Old Bailey.

It is understood Coulson will have to wear an electronic tag until he has served half of his full sentence as a condition of his early release.

Britain’s ministry of justice declined to comment on an individual prisoner, but said inmates can be released under home detention arrangements before they have served half of their term.

Coulson was previously held at HMP Belmarsh in southeast London but it was reported in September that he was moved to Hollesley Bay to serve the rest of his term.