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Andy Coulson arrested in Tommy Sheridan trial perjury inquiry | |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Prime Minister David Cameron's former director of communications Andy Coulson has been arrested by police and charged with perjury. | |
Mr Coulson, 44, was earlier detained at his home in the Dulwich area of London at 06:30 by Strathclyde Police. | |
He arrived at a police station in Glasgow shortly before 15:30. | He arrived at a police station in Glasgow shortly before 15:30. |
Mr Coulson was formally arrested on Wednesday evening as part of an investigation into evidence at the trial of former MSP Tommy Sheridan. | |
A police spokeswoman said: "Officers from Strathclyde Police's Operation Rubicon team detained a 44-year-old man in London this morning under section 14 of the Criminal Procedure Scotland Act 1995 on suspicion of committing perjury before the High Court in Glasgow." | A police spokeswoman said: "Officers from Strathclyde Police's Operation Rubicon team detained a 44-year-old man in London this morning under section 14 of the Criminal Procedure Scotland Act 1995 on suspicion of committing perjury before the High Court in Glasgow." |
Mr Coulson gave evidence at the perjury trial of former Scottish Socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan in 2010. | Mr Coulson gave evidence at the perjury trial of former Scottish Socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan in 2010. |
Sheridan was awarded £200,000 in damages from the News of the World in 2006 after it printed allegations that he had committed adultery and visited a swingers' club. | Sheridan was awarded £200,000 in damages from the News of the World in 2006 after it printed allegations that he had committed adultery and visited a swingers' club. |
After the court action, the former MSP and his wife Gail were charged with perjury. | After the court action, the former MSP and his wife Gail were charged with perjury. |
She was acquitted during the subsequent trial but Mr Sheridan was convicted in December 2010. He has since been freed after serving just over a year of a three-year sentence. | She was acquitted during the subsequent trial but Mr Sheridan was convicted in December 2010. He has since been freed after serving just over a year of a three-year sentence. |
Mr Coulson was called to give evidence at Sheridan's trial as he was editor of the News of the World between 2003 and 2007. | Mr Coulson was called to give evidence at Sheridan's trial as he was editor of the News of the World between 2003 and 2007. |
During heated exchanges with Sheridan, who represented himself at the trial, Mr Coulson denied being involved in, or aware of, any illegal activities, including phone hacking. | During heated exchanges with Sheridan, who represented himself at the trial, Mr Coulson denied being involved in, or aware of, any illegal activities, including phone hacking. |
At the time of his two-day appearance, he was employed as Prime Minister David Cameron's director of communications. | At the time of his two-day appearance, he was employed as Prime Minister David Cameron's director of communications. |
Mr Coulson resigned from that post in January 2011, saying coverage of the News of the World phone hacking scandal had "made it difficult to give the 110% needed in this role". | Mr Coulson resigned from that post in January 2011, saying coverage of the News of the World phone hacking scandal had "made it difficult to give the 110% needed in this role". |
In July 2011, he was arrested by Metropolitan Police investigating the News of the World hacking scandal and later released on bail. | In July 2011, he was arrested by Metropolitan Police investigating the News of the World hacking scandal and later released on bail. |
Commenting after Mr Coulson was detained, Mr Sheridan said: "Fortunately, given the hard work of Operation Rubicon, we now have a start to what will hopefully become criminal charges. | |
"Hopefully Mr Coulson won't be lonely, but will be joined by colleagues in the future." | "Hopefully Mr Coulson won't be lonely, but will be joined by colleagues in the future." |
Mr Sheridan said he believed it was the first step "in the journey towards the quashing of my conviction, which was unsafe and unsound". | Mr Sheridan said he believed it was the first step "in the journey towards the quashing of my conviction, which was unsafe and unsound". |
Sheridan's solicitor, Gordon Dangerfield, said: "We have very strong grounds of appeal and will be lodging a full appeal in due course." | Sheridan's solicitor, Gordon Dangerfield, said: "We have very strong grounds of appeal and will be lodging a full appeal in due course." |