The former news editor on the Scottish News of the World has denied having a relationship with a woman who claimed to have had an affair with Tommy Sheridan.
 
Douglas Wight, 37, told the High Court in Glasgow that Fiona McGuire tried to take her own life because she was being put under pressure by people within the Scottish Socialist Party.

The journalist denied that the former escort girl's claims that she had an affair with Tommy Sheridan were "absolute fantasy". Mr Wight said Fiona McGuire had "stood up in court" and told how she had a relationship with the ex-MSP.

The jury earlier heard how Mr Wight - former Scottish news editor - once stopped Miss McGuire taking her own life.

Sheridan and his wife Gail are on trial accused of lying under oath during a defamation case against the News of the World in 2006.

The former Scottish Socialist Party leader won £200,000 in damages after the Sunday tabloid printed allegations about his private life.
 
The trial previously heard Miss McGuire was the focus of a News of the World story in November 2004 amid claims she had a four year affair with Sheridan. The paper were alerted after the SSP member "let slip" to a freelance journalist in the north of Scotland about it.

Mr Wight - now the paper's books editor in London - was challenged by Sheridan about his dealings with Ms McGuire.

The court was told how Mr Wight was in contact with Miss McGuire prior to the story breaking and before she gave evidence at the libel trial.

Sheridan asked: "You never once thought that she was maybe telling a lie?"

Mr Wight replied: "No, I never thought that. Right from when she spoke to the freelance journalist to her giving evidence in 2006, Fiona McGuire has never said anything other that she had an affair with you."

Sheridan suggested when the News of the World "waved wads of cash" people "forget about the truth".

Mr Wight said: "You should know, Mr Sheridan. You took £30,000 from the Daily Record."

The court also heard how Miss McGuire tried to commit suicide because she was anxious in 2006 about giving evidence against a "former lover". Mr Wight said it happened while he and the woman were in a hotel together prior to the Court of Session case.

He added: "She was very anxious about the prospect of giving evidence. She said the prospect of facing someone she described as a former lover, she found very daunting.

"She did not think that she was going to be up for doing that."

Mr Wight told the jury Miss McGuire had medication for on-going health issues and to help with anxiety. He went on: "She took a handful (of pills) and put them in her mouth. I don't know what the intention was. It was in the context of the stress of having to give evidence.
"I took her through to the bathroom and made her empty her mouth and made sure she did not swallow any pills."

Sheridan later commented on amount of time he felt Mr Wight spent with Miss McGuire.

He asked: "Were you having a relationship with Fiona McGuire?"

Mr Wight: "Not at all. Absolutely not."

Sheridan also asked whether he had once told Miss McGuire that by speaking to the tabloid she had come over to the "dark side".

Mr Wight: "Are you suggesting that I am actually on the dark side and that I am a Jedi knight because it was a Star Wars related jibe?"

The journalist told the court that Miss McGuire was at times "infuriating" for the paper as she would be "hard to pin down"

The Sheridans, both 46, deny the perjury charge.

Mr Sheridan also denies that he asked SSP colleague Colin Fox to lie for him during the case against the News of the World.

The trial, before Judge Lord Bracadale, continues.