Sheridan and wife to stand trial for perjury

The 44-year-old Celebrity Big Brother housemate was served with legal papers confirming the prosecution against him will go ahead – more than a year after he was charged. Airline cabin crew worker Gail, 44, was also served with an indictment.

If convicted, the pair face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Detectives grilled the ex-MSP, former leader of the Scottish Socialist Party, after his record damages win last year against a Sunday newspaper. The Crown Office in Edinburgh ordered the probe within days of the Solidarity Party leader’s dramatic Court of Session victory over the News of the World in August 2006.

Sheridan was awarded £200,000 damages over lurid allegations about his private life.

The paper printed a series of articles claiming the father of one took part in swingers’ parties and orgies, took drugs, and cheated on Gail repeatedly in the marital bed at their Glasgow home.

He launched a furious defence at Scotland’s highest civil court and won the defamation action after sacking his legal team.

Immediately after the verdict in Sheridan’s favour, publishers News International appealed, claiming a string of key witnesses had committed perjury by lying under oath.

The politician-turned-broadcaster was later arrested in the car park of an Edinburgh-based radio station following his morning show, while a squad of officers searched the couple’s home in the Cardonald area of Glasgow.

Sheridan has since tried to carve out a career in law as well as cultivating hopes of television stardom. He appeared on Celebrity Big Brother last week before being voted out last Wednesday.

Following his eviction from the reality show, he revealed how he feared producers would try to portray him as a womaniser. He also worried about ending up a figure of ridicule like fellow maverick politician George Galloway, who was mocked for donning a red leotard and impersonating a cat in the show two years ago.

Sheridan became the fifth celebrity to be evicted from Celebrity Big Brother last Wednesday night.

During his time on the show, the politician admitted he was wary about what he did – such as dancing with singer Michelle Heaton – in case it was edited in a certain way.

He said: “Obviously I would expect Big Brother, which is an honourable show, never to try to distort the truth. However, it helps to be cautious.

“That’s why I raised the issue about me dancing with Michelle. She never had eyes for me anyway. I am old, going bald and am very very hairy.”

Prosecutors had watched footage of the Channel Four show to ensure he didn’t mention the case on air in case it prejudiced proceedings. Yesterday a spokesman for the Crown Office said Sheridan and his wife are set to appear at the High Court in Edinburgh next month.

He is charged with perjury, and attempted subornation of perjury, while Gail, also 44, faces a single perjury charge.

The couple, from Cardonald, Glasgow, appeared in court last March charged with perjury and made no plea or declaration.

Last night, their lawyer, Aamer Anwar said: “I can confirm that an indictment was served today for charges of perjury against Thomas and Gail Sheridan.

“A preliminary hearing is fixed for February 26 at the High Court in Edinburgh and a trial will then be fixed for later on in the year.

“As proceedings are live it would be inappropriate to comment further other than to state that both Mr and Mrs Sheridan maintain their innocence and are determined to fight this.”

Sheridan stood beside his lawyer as he made the statement and would only say afterwards: “I can’t say anything but, as Aamer said, we will fight to clear our names.”

Last February, Gail’s father-in-law Gus Healy, former MSP Rosemary Byrne, and Solidarity members Pat Smith, Graeme McIver and Jock Penman – all of whom gave evidence on Sheridan’s behalf in court – were also charged with perjury.