The case of a private eye who helped HP spy on hacks and its own board members is dragging on. Sentencing has now been postponed for Bryan Wagner who helped HP unearth private telephone records of board members and journalists.

Wagner is the last remaining defendant from the spying scandal that erupted in 2006 and made HP look very very silly. He pleaded guilty 2 1/2 years ago to identity theft and conspiracy and had been waiting to hear his sentence today. Now, a hearing will take place next week to determine a new sentencing date.

Wagner was the lowest-ranking member of the plot to find the source of boardroom leaks to the press. He admitted tricking phone companies into coughing up confidential billing logs. He claimed he didn't know the records he was gathering were for HP. Quite why this has taken so long to deal with, no one is saying.