Hibs star on fraud charge up before Jambo sheriff

SCOTLAND star Garry O’Connor looked stunned when he appeared in court to face Ferrari fraud charges – when the sheriff admitted he was a staunch Jambo.

The Hibs forward had been ordered to appear in person at Haddington Sheriff Court yesterday, to answer alleged insurance fraud allegations over a crash involving his £100,000 Ferrari.

O’Connor, 28, who spoke only to confirm his name, was successful in his motion to have the case postponed.

But the striker looked shocked when Sheriff Colin McClory admitted he was a Hearts shareholder and also held a season ticket at Tynecastle.

Solicitor Alex Lafferty told the court: “There is a motion to postpone the trial diet at the end of this month to fix new dates between 2 May and 28 May.”

At this point, Sheriff McClory said: “For the record, I should declare that I’m a season ticket holder at Tynecastle. Is there any objection to me dealing with this matter? I just thought it appropriate that I should disclose this.”

The sheriff agreed to change the trial date from 29 March to 24 May.

O’Connor, of the Archerfield estate, near Dirleton, East Lothian, is alleged to have told an Aviva Insurance rep that he was driving his F430 Spider F1 in Gullane, East Lothian, on 30 April when extensive damage to the car occurred.

He is accused of trying to swindle £93,500 from the insurance company after it was alleged a friend of his caused the damage following a collision with a bridge two weeks earlier.