Sheridan Timeline: A very public rise and fall

Published on Thursday 23 December 2010 17:33

After a 12-week trial, firebrand politician Tommy Sheridan was found guilty of lying during his defamation case against the News of the World. Below are key events in his public and political life and those leading up to the guilty verdict:

• 1998: The Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) is created, formed from the then Scottish Socialist Alliance, set up in 1996. Tommy Sheridan heads the party.

• May 1999: Sheridan is elected as a list MSP for Glasgow for the SSP. At the time, Sheridan said Scotland's fifth political party had been born. But for four years he was the SSP's sole representative in the Scottish Parliament.

• 2000: Tommy and Gail Sheridan marry in Glasgow.

• 1 May 2003: Relected to the Scottish Parliament.

• 9 November 2004: Meeting at the SSP headquarters in Stanley Street, Glasgow, where Sheridan allegedly told party colleagues he had visited a swingers' club twice.

• 10 November 2004: News emerges that Sheridan has stood down from the Scottish Socialist Party leadership.

• 4 August 2006: Sheridan wins his defamation action at the Court of Session in Edinburgh against the News of the World over allegations that he cheated on his wife and took part in orgies.

He is awarded 200,000 in damages.

• 3 September 2006: He announces the formation of Solidarity, his new political party, with himself and fellow MSP Rosemary Byrne as joint conveners.

• 16 December 2007: Sheridan is charged by police with perjury.

• 19 February 2008: Gail Sheridan is charged by police with perjury.

• January 2009: The politician takes part in Celebrity Big Brother. He is the fifth housemate to be evicted. In a post-eviction interview he admits that his primary motivation for taking part was he "needed the money".

• 4 October 2010: Tommy and Gail Sheridan go on trial for perjury at the High Court in Glasgow.

• 17 December 2010: Gail Sheridan is acquitted of the charge of perjury. Prosecutors tell her they are no longer pursuing the charge against her. Her solicitor, John-Paul Mowberry, reads a statement outside court.

• 23 December 2010: Tommy Sheridan is found guilty of perjury.