STV is to cover the sentencing of Tommy Sheridan using Twitter from court in a Scottish legal first.

It was confirmed on Tuesday that journalists will be allowed to send live electronic text updates from the hearing following an application by STV News.

Sheridan was convicted of committing perjury last month during his defamation action against the News of the World. He will be sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday and is expected to be jailed.

It is the first time that reporters will be able to send updates direct from a Scottish courtroom. The Lord Chief Justice recently issued interim guidance for England and Wales which allowed journalists to cover the bail hearing of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

STV News was the only media organisation to make a formal written application to the trial judge Lord Bracadale to ask for permission to use the social networking site to provide instant updates from the hearing.

The updates will be available on the STV News website and on Twitter.

Digital News Editor Matt Roper said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer this innovation for our viewers. Fair and accurate reporting of court has always been central to the principle of open justice. Now technology will allow journalists to bring us what is happening inside court without delay.”

STV will also provide a video livestream from outside the court on its website, providing coverage of the aftermath of the case. There will be special reports in STV News at Six from Political Editor Bernard Ponsonby and Chief Reporter David Cowan.

IN DETAIL 

• Follow STV News on Twitter for updates
• Interim guidance on using Twitter in England and Wales