Do we change needn't in reported speech?

[abo.omar]

I read that we change needn't into didn't have to or didn't need to in reported speech.
But in this book I read it doesn't change.

 

[emsr2d2]

I read that we change needn't into didn't have to or didn't need to in reported speech.

Where did you read that?

 

[abo.omar]

Where did you read that?

 

[Tdol]

I think they're both OK:

"You needn't bother," he said.

He said I needn't bother. :tick:
He said I didn't need to bother. :tick:

Others may feel differently about this.