Tommy Sheridan makes final plea to jury

Former Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) MSP Tommy Sheridan today pleaded with a jury to acquit him of perjury, telling them his life was at stake.

The politician addressed the panel at the High Court in Glasgow at the close of a long-running trial into allegations he lied under oath during his defamation case against the News of the World in 2006.

Sheridan received 200,000 following the successful action prompted by the newspaper's claims he was an adulterer who visited swingers' clubs.

He was originally charged alongside his wife Gail but the charges against the mother of one were dropped on Friday.

Sheridan denies six allegations of perjury during the civil jury trial in July 2006.

He began his closing remarks with an apology to the jury for the length of his speech.

Sheridan, who is conducting his own defence, said: "I do hope that you'll understand that my life is at stake.

"I've got a wee girl at home, I've got a loving wife and if you decide to convict me I'll be separated from them for a very long time.

"I have to convince you that there's far too much reasonable doubt for you to find me guilty of any of the remaining six charges."