The private investigator at the centre of the News of the World phone hacking allegations inquired at an amateur filmmakers group about making a documentary about the scandal.

Glenn Mulcaire joined Sutton Film Makers in 2009, after he had been jailed for intercepting the phone calls of royal aides, along with reporter Clive Goodman.

The 40-year-old, from Sutton, attended several sessions of the amateur filmmakers’ group.

One filmmaker, who did not want to be named, claimed Mulcaire had spoken about his desire to make a documentary about the phone hacking scandal.

He told the Sutton Guardian: “It’s no big secret that he wanted to make a film about what had happened.

He said he wanted to tell his story. He mentioned that individually to a few people.”

Jim Rogers, a senior member of the group, said: “I never knew for sure why he was attending. He obviously had a look at what we were doing and decided we weren’t for him.

“We have strict policies about what kind of films we make and I’m sure there’s no way we would have allowed him to make a film about something illegal like phone hacking.

“We wouldn’t have wanted anything to do with it.”

Mulcaire, from Sutton, is accused of hacking a series of mobile phone voicemail accounts on behalf of the Sunday tabloid, that was closed last weekend as a result of the scandal.

His targets are alleged to include murdered Walton schoolgirl Milly Dowler, victims of the 7/7 bombings, and dead soldiers’ families.

He released a statement last week saying he was sorry for his actions.

He said: “Working for the News of the World was never easy. There was relentless pressure.

“I knew what we did pushed the limits ethically but I didn’t understand that I had broken the law.”