Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson cleared of perjury charges

Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson has been cleared of lying at the trial of former socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan after the case against him collapsed.

Coulson, 47, had been on trial for around two weeks at the High Court in Edinburgh, where he denied committing perjury during the 2010 case in Glasgow.

Trial judge Lord Burns upheld a defence motion that Coulson, from Kent – a former director of communications for the Prime Minister – had no case to answer.

Delivering his ruling, Lord Burns said he had “sustained the arguments in favour of the accused” and told Coulson: “I acquit you of the charge.”

He gave his decision on Monday following two days of legal submissions from Mr Coulson’s defence QC but it could not be reported until today as the Crown was given time to decide whether to appeal against the ruling..