Police asked to look at Tommy Sheridan evidence again after phone hacking scandal

POLICE have been asked to look at evidence given by witnesses in the Tommy Sheridan perjury trial in light of allegations about the News of the World.

The Crown Office did not identify which witnesses but among those who testified were Andy Coulson, who was editor of the paper when phone hacking allegations first emerged.

Strathclyde Police has been asked to make a "preliminary assessment" and report to the Area Procurator Fiscal at Glasgow for consideration of any further action, the Crown Office said.

A spokesman said: "In light of emerging developments regarding the News of the World the Crown has requested Strathclyde Police to inquire into the evidence given by certain witnesses in the trial of Tommy Sheridan.

"Strathclyde Police have been asked to make a preliminary assessment and to report to the Area Procurator Fiscal at Glasgow for consideration of any further action."

Mr Coulson, then Downing Street director of communications, told the trial last December that he had no knowledge of illegal activities by reporters while he was editor of the newspaper.

He also told the trial: "I don't accept there was a culture of phone hacking at the News of the World."

When asked by Sheridan, who was conducting his own defence in the trial, whether his newspaper had made payments to police officers, Mr Coulson answered: "Not to my knowledge."

Sheridan was jailed for three years in January after being found guilty of perjury during his 2006 defamation action against the News of the World.

He successfully sued the newspaper over claims that he was an adulterer who visited swingers clubs, but was later charged with perjury and convicted following a three-month trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

During the trial, Sheridan alleged that his mobile phone was hacked into by private investigator Glenn Mulcaire.

Copies of Mulcaire's notebook showing Mr Sheridan's details were obtained by a court order and produced as evidence.

Mulcaire was jailed in 2007 after plotting to intercept voicemail messages while working for the News of the World. The paper's royal editor Clive Goodman was also jailed.

It is understood that at this stage a criminal investigation has not been instructed by the Crown.

Sheridan's lawyer is also expected to ask police today to investigate Mr Coulson's evidence.

It is understood that solicitor Aamer Anwar has prepared a dossier to submit to Strathclyde police.

He said: "It is now time that those at the top of this organisation were arrested and questioned if they are not above the law.

"The police spent over 2 million investigating Mr Sheridan in the public interest. Well, it is time to prove this was not a vindictive and one-sided investigation by holding those to account at the top of News International."