Former Scottish Socialist Party leader Tommy Sheridan was jailed for three years on Wednesday for perjury, following a high-profile libel trial revolving around his sex life.
Sheridan (46) was convicted in December of lying during a successful defamation action against the News of the World newspaper in 2006.
He was found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow of lying about the newspaper's claims that he was an adulterer who visited swingers' clubs, the Press Association reported.
Sheridan's wife Gail, who has vowed to stand by her husband, was also accused of lying to the jury at the Court of Session in Edinburgh in 2006, but she was acquitted when the Crown dropped the case against her last month.
Sheridan announced his intention to both appeal against his conviction and launch a legal action in relation to the phone hacking controversy.
He said in a statement read outside court by his solicitor, Aamer Anwar: "This multimillion-pound prosecution will separate me from my wife and child and that will be heartbreaking.
"But I will continue to fight a system that protects the real criminals — the rich and powerful."
Outside the court, Mrs Sheridan said: "As for Tommy, well, Tommy has dedicated his life to helping others.
"The real reason why he's been imprisoned today is because he has fought injustice and inequality with every beat of his heart.
"But it won't be long before Tommy is back stronger and continuing the fight."
Agencies