By Gavin Madeley
Last updated at 4:02 PM on 26th December 2010
Disgraced Tommy Sheridan yesterday faced fresh allegations that he badgered a former lover to take part in squalid three-in-a-bed sessions.
Laura Smith claims the Scottish politician seduced her into sleeping with him and a leading football manager.
The soccer boss strenuously denies the allegation involving the former Scottish Socialist Party chief, who was convicted last week of perjury in a libel battle with the News of the World.
Convicted liar Tommy Sheridan outside court after the case with his wife Gail who has vowed to stand by him
But Miss Smith, now 44, said today: 'I stand by every word.'
Sheridan, 46, faces years in prison and financial ruin after being convicted of lying in court about visits to a seedy sex club.
In a signed statement to police, Miss Smith claimed she was coaxed into the threesome by Sheridan, who then badgered her to have sex with his own brother-in-law, Andy McFarlane, and later with Danish party activist, Katrine Trolle.
Miss Smith said she was also pestered to visit a swingers' club but refused.
She told the News of the World: 'Tommy was only ever after one thing – sex. The bottom line is I now know he is a horrible person.'
Sheridan's former Danish lover Katrine Trolle
Her claims follow explosive testimony by journalist Anvar Khan during Sheridan' s 12-week perjury trial when she described taking part in group sex with him, Mr McFarlane and Miss Trolle and visiting Cupid's sex club in Manchester.
Miss Smith, who got to know Sheridan after both grew up in Glasgow's tough Pollok district, also said the philandering politician begged her for sex on the eve of his marriage to Gail.
She claimed he told her the couple's marriage was one of political convenience.
Miss Smith added: 'The night before he got married he left messages saying he was coming round to my house with a bottle of wine.
'He only had one thing in mind, and it wasn't for a cup of tea. But I just ignored him. Once he got married I wasn't interested anymore – although, of course, he tried.
'When he realised it was all over he pretended he didn't know me.'
The damning revelations are certain to heap further strain on the Sheridans' marriage despite Gail, 46, who walked free from court after she was cleared of perjury, vowing: 'I have and will always stand by Tommy.'
Sheridan was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow of lying under oath five times during his 200,000 defamation victory against the News of the World in 2006.
He was freed to spend Christmas with wife Gail and five-year-old Gabrielle after being bailed by Lord Bracadale until sentencing on January 26. Senior legal sources say he could be facing five years in prison.
Yesterday the former Celebrity Big Brother contestant broke his silence by posting a message of defiance on the social networking site Facebook.
In it, he thanked his small band of supporters and wrote: "We are strong and will continue to fight against the forces of darkness. A very merry xmas to you all. Solidarity always. T, G and wee G."
However, Sheridan still faces a race to save his family from homelessness as he fights the prospect of a potentially costly appeal by the News of the World against his successful 2006 defamation action.
The Sunday tabloid will seek to reclaim legal costs of around 500,000.
Last Thursday, the jury of 12 women and two men found Sheridan guilty by a majority of a single perjury charge broken down into five allegations.
He was convicted of lying in the 2006 court case by saying he did not have an extra-marital affair Miss Trolle.
He also lied about visiting Cupid's swingers' club in Manchester twice with Miss Trolle, Miss Khan, Mr McFarlane and footballer friend Gary Clark. He was also convicted of lying by claiming he did not admit to his sex club visits at an SSP meeting in 2004.
The trial - Scotland's longest-ever perjury case - is estimated to have cost between 2million and 3million. It was claimed during Sheridan's defence that the police inquiry had cost 1.5million.
During the trial, Sheridan claimed there had been a plot to depose him as SSP leader by rivals and during his five-hour closing speech he appeared to choke back tears as he spoke about his wife and five-year-old daughter.
Following the guilty verdict, Lord Bracadale told him: 'You have been convicted of the serious offence of perjury and must return to court expecting to begin a prison sentence.'
If I had a wife who was a ringer for the Palen women, look at the gob, I would wonder elsewhere.
- John, Indonesia, 26/12/2010 16:15
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