Police 'Trace Tommy Sheridan's Mobile To Swingers Club'

Feb 24 2008 Exclusive by Steve Smith

DETECTIVES claim they have traced Tommy Sheridan's mobile phone to a swingers' club that he denies visiting.

They have used "cell site analysis" to plot the phone to the vicinity of Cupids sex club at the time he was allegedly there, a source said yesterday.

The police source added: "The police strongly believe they have enough evidence to prove his phone was traced to a location in Manchester at the time in question."

Former SSP leader Sheridan, 43, his wife Gail, 44, and her dad are among seven people who have been charged with perjury over his defamation win against the News of the World in August 2006.

Sheridan has always denied he took part in an orgy at the sex club in Manchester.

But the police source said: "It's fair to say the mobile is expected to play a part in the case."

Cell site analysis allows investigators to establish which phone mast a mobile has locked on to.

The phone can be pinpointed to within a radius of a few metres.

Solidarity leader Sheridan, who represented himself during his fight at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, declined to comment on the claims.

They came a day after Gail was suspended from her job as an air hostess over claims that miniature bottles of alcohol had been stolen.

A friend of Sheridan said: "It's all part of the witch-hunt.

"Police are desperate to discredit Tommy at every turn.

"First, they raid his home in front of his daughter just before Christmas, then they try to wreck Gail's career with some nonsense over a few bottles of miniatures."

The phone evidence is central to the police probe into lying witnesses sparked after Sheridan's £200,000 damages victory.

A jury dismissed claims he was a serial adulterer and swinger who used drugs.

Sheridan phoned Radio Scotland's Off The Ball yesterday.

He said he was calling handsfree, adding: "Lothian and Borders Police will be wondering how he's on a mobile while driving. They will be following me soon."

  

THE SO-CALLED SHERIDAN SEVEN ARE:

Solidarity leader Tommy Sheridan

Gail Sheridan and her dad Gus Healy

Ex-MSP Rosemary Byrne

Friend Jock Penman

Former SSP activist Graham McIver

Party candidate Patricia Smith