Tommy Sheridan: a life in pictures

1992: Tommy Sheridan, then a councillor, is released from Soughton prison, near Edinburgh, where he served four months of a six-month sentence for his part in a poll tax demo Photograph: Chris Bacon/PA

1999: the Scottish Socialist party leader and MSP swears allegiance to the Queen under protest and with a clenched fist at the opening of the Scottish parliament Photograph: David Cheskin/PA

2001: Sheridan is arrested at a demonstration outside the home of Britain's Trident nuclear submarines at Faslane on the Clyde Photograph: Murdo Macleod

2003: Rosemary Byrne, Frances Curran, Colin Fox, Tommy Sheridan, Carolyn Leckie and Rosie Kane, MSPs for the Scottish Socialist party, at the home of the temporary parliament at the Church of Scotland's General Assembly building at the Mound Photograph: Murdo Macleod

2003: Sheridan surrounded by posters in which Margaret Thatcher morphs into Tony Blair Photograph: Murdo Macleod

2006: Fiona McGuire, a former sex worker, leaves the court of session in Edinburgh after giving evidence in Sheridan's libel action against the News of the World Photograph: David Cheskin/Empics

2006: Sheridan and his wife Gail outside the court of session in Edinburgh after winning his defamation case against the News of the World. The judge awarded £200,000 in damages to Sheridan after the jury deliberated for three hours over the tabloid's claims that he was a serial adulterer and swinger who used drugs Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

2007: the Respect party leader, George Galloway, joins Sheridan for a press conference and rally at St Augustine's church, Edinburgh, during the Scottish election campaign Photograph: Murdo Macleod

2007: Sheridan poses on a sunbed in a tanning salon during a photocall to promote his Edinburgh fringe chatshow Photograph: David Moir/Reuters

2008: Sheridan about to drive his wife, Gail, to Gayfield police station, where she was due to be questioned about alleged perjury in his £200,000 libel victory over the News of the World Photograph: Murdo Macleod

2010: Tommy and Gail Sheridan leave Glasgow high court after the first day of his perjury trial in Glasgow Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Katrine Trolle, a former Scottish Socialist party activist, told the trial that Sheridan had a string of sexual encounters with her, including having group sex at a swingers' club in Manchester. Sheridan, who was representing himself, called Trolle a "conscious liar" and accused her of making up stories Photograph: Murdo Macleod

The journalist Anvar Khan at her home in Glasgow. The former News of the World columnist was accused of being a "cunning liar" by Sheridan for claiming she had gone with him to a swingers' club in Manchester Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Barbara Jane Scott, a witness in the libel case, was accused of being deceitful by Gail Sheridan's lawyer, Paul McBride QC, because she failed to tell the 2006 trial that she had crucial minutes in her handbag with her as she gave evidence. She waited until after Sheridan had won his libel action before presenting the documents to the police at a stage-managed event to which the press were invited Photograph: Murdo MacLeod

2010: Gail and Tommy Sheridan arrive at Glasgow high court for his perjury trial Photograph: Murdo MacLeod

23 December 2010: the Sheridans leave Glasgow high court after he is found guilty of lying under oath during his successful defamation action against the News of the World Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

30 January 2012: Sheridan is hugged by his wife, Gail, as he leaves Castle Huntly prison Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

30 January 2012: Sheridan leaves prison accompanied by Gail Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA