Tommy Sheridan back in court over News of the World damages

Former Scottish Socialist Party leader Tommy Sheridan is returning to court today in an attempt to make the publisher of the News of the World hand over £200,000 in unpaid libel damages dating back more than five years.

Sheridan successfully sued the now-defunct Sunday tabloid in 2006 and was awarded damages over a story claiming he had visited a swingers' club.

The News of the World had planned to appeal, but the process was stalled after police began a perjury investigation, which resulted in Sheridan being jailed for three years for lying on oath during the libel case.

The politician and former Celebrity Big Brother contestant was freed last month, after serving just over a year of his sentence.

Lawyers for News of the World publisher News Group Newspapers are expected to argue in court today that the appeal against the damages award should be allowed to resume.

Sheridan told the Daily Record: "The court date might be 14 February but there is no love lost between me and the Murdoch empire. They accused me of lying.

"Being accused of lying by the News of the World is like being told to sit up straight by the hunchback of Notre Dame."

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